And I am back with a home tour /blogger showcase and in this post we will redefine hip and inspirational via images from Priya’s boho-chic home and her online magazine (Curated) and blog (Once upon a tea time). Priya lives in Nothern California with her husband and two boys and is one of the pioneer design/lifestyle bloggers in the Indian/ global arena and her work is without doubt an inspiration to many of us. Her boho-chic space on the www is my go to outlet for not just stunning visual imagery but also articulate conversations and enriching life lessons! Recurrent images of steamy cups of chai, intricate vintage fabrics and her eclectic art wall give the aesthetic of her blog a legendary stamp and a timeless appeal. Recently, she launched her own publication – curated magazine and we at Aalayam love Curated for it’s classy, colorful and highbrow content that is a must -read for any discerning reader!

Supriya had written about curated back in February when Priya had graciously invited Supriya and me to be a part of the February edition and here is what Surpiya said “Curated is a veritable visual treat! Its fresh, sets a serious design tone with its boho-chic influences, and blazes the trail for all the bloggers in the business of self publishing. Priya, with a keen eye for design detail and a refreshing repertoire of verdant imagery punctuates Curated with oomph, style and tons of inspiration” and I agree!

The rest of this post includes insightful excerpts and first-class images from Priya’s blog and home, so grab your cup of chai and sit back!

So, here is Priya in her own words...

On herself : “I am professionally trained in the sciences but am equally besotted with colors and patterns and fabrics and art and connecting with people, their narratives and with social justice. I felt guilty because I was doing one when I really wanted to spend time on the other or vice versa. Science is a huge part of life and the logic of it thrills my brain in the same way that a suzani or a kantha work thrills my heart and brings joy to it. It took me a while to realize that I can’t do just one. I feel lucky that I am able to appreciate both and that they speak to my soul albeit differently. Just acknowledging that I needed both science and the creative art has relieved me of a huge burden, that of having to choose”

On blogging: “I am sitting in my little blogging headquarters and thinking that I really need to spend more time here. It is as if when I am in other parts of house I have predetermined roles to play- spouse, householder, parent- but when I come in here and sit at my desk, I am suddenly free to be whoever (whomsoever?) I want to be. Free to dream. Sitting at my desk with its fraying vintage tapestry, I could be a journalist filing a story about the revolution with barely minutes to go until the deadline. A writer tap-tapping away at my keyboard, trying to write his magnum opus, amidst the lawn mower whine and Japanese pop music echoing outside the room. A dreamer day dreaming of traveling to beautiful faraway places. Indiana Jones back from a thrilling adventure in South America and typing out his adventure (though I don’t know if he ever did that).

Blogging is something I see myself doing even when I am very, very old. To a lot of people, a design blog is just that: yet another design blog. But to me, it’s a way of sharing with you what is beautiful about life. Vintage. Personal. Grace. Chic. Creative. Handmade. Art. Tea. A way of life that is an embodiment of these words. I find it immensely reassuring that no matter what or when, I can always blog my way through it.

On wearing multiple hats (she wrote this a couple of years ago when she was about to turn 40 and was in graduate school studying disease biology) but we can all relate to her words even today: "Like many women, I am used to looking at myself and focusing on the faults. Do you do that? But these days, I am discovering the positives too. I went back to graduate school. Yes, I drive back and forth from my university everyday and my commute is horrendous. (HORRENDOUS.) I have two kids and I drive in 2 school carpools. I fix lunches and dinners, write term papers, attend classes, take my kids to soccer, work in a research lab studying the bacteria in our bodies and blog whenever I have the opportunity. You bet, I am tired but I also feel amazing. And I am not the only one. Each one of us works hard at life and living and it would be wonderful if we could all see how amazing we truly are. Each. one. of. us."

On her Ganesha wall art (If you frequent Priya’s blog, then you are familiar with her iconic framed Ganesha!) "Ganesha is said to be the remover of all obstacles in one’s path. This cloth painting of Ganesh has been ushering the season in in our family for more than 30 years- it belonged to my mother and she gifted it to me when my husband and I bought our house."

On vintage fabrics: "I am most inspired when I see vintage fabrics- they provide a visual punch that reaches into the deepest wells of my creativity and disperse any mental fog (sorry about all the mixed metaphors!). Ideally, every time I feel dull or uninspired, I would step out into an open air market full of vendors hawking colorful, handmade products. Figurines, pots and pans, paintings, baskets, puppets, fabrics and tapestries. I love vintage fabric tapestries stitched together from embroidered cloth remnants, especially those from Northern India (especially the Ladakh region) and from Tibet. These tapestries and other vintage fabrics provide me with a jumpstart like no other- it’s something about the way different types of colors and fabrics are stitched together to make the whole tapestry. Each segment is beautiful and preserves its individuality while contributing to the gorgeousness of the entire piece. For some people, it’s art or a book or meditation or a walk but for me, it’s being surrounded by these fabrics."

On her love of tea time :"When we were looking for homes, there was one feature that I always searched for. It wasn’t an extra bathroom or color or material of countertop or a fixture of any kind. I wanted the house to be one where teatime could be enjoyed (I would even say celebrated!). Yes, you could enjoy it anywhere but there are some houses that are just perfect for it. It’s not so much the tea or chai that is most important (though it is a vital component) but the time set aside for it- for preparing the tea, for getting the cups lined up, for choosing the accompaniments, both sweet and savory, for the laughter and conversation."

"When I was a child, my family would travel to India in the summer holidays and we would visit relatives and stay with them for a few weeks. Each day, everyone would come together for teatime and it would all start- the men would set out the mugs in trays and the women would start brewing the tea. We didn’t use teapots but the chai was brewed, milk and sugar added and poured into the tea mugs. There were always biscuits (cookies). I remember the biscuits were stored in clean, shiny glass jars lined up in the kitchen cabinets and in pretty, tin canisters in the little storeroom- biscuits were essential to tea time. There were also savory/salty snacks for those without the almost ubiquitous sweet tooth. Once everything was ready and lined up on trays, there would be a moment of quiet as hands readily and gratefully accepted their cup or mug, savored the warmth of the chai and the rising aroma of cardamom and ginger. And then, it would resume- the conversations and the laughter. Time stood still, worries were forgotten and all that mattered was that it was teatime. Everything else could wait. There was feeling of permanence about those times (what an oxymoron!). That’s what I wanted in our new home- I wanted it to have that feeling that any minute teacups would be lining up on trays, that fragrant steams of ginger and lavender hovered in the air and that you could hear the distant clink of glass jars being opened. We saw many houses during our search but one stole our heart- it had teatime written all over it."

On Decorating nirvana : "One popular meaning of ‘nirvana’ is an ideal or idyllic place or state or mind or a state of peace. When I say decorating nirvana, I mean a state where you have achieved your ideal look. Whether you live in a rental property or your own, whether it’s an apartment or a house or everything in between, if you can create your ideal surroundings, you have achieved decorating nirvana! "

"Let me explain. We moved into our current home 3 months ago, it’s our dream home and we love it. Though we still have to change some furniture, we are almost done setting it up. Which means I have hung art on the walls, there are frames leaning on the floor, a mix of contemporary photographs and traditional paintings; I have draped my beautiful vintage fabrics, set up piles of books and arranged my collection of objects from around the world. Add some flowers and a fern or two. This is how I create our home in every apartment, condo, townhouse or house we have ever lived in. I don’t see myself changing it. This is what interior decor means to me- creating that signature look which tells anyone entering the house our story and what we love (boho chic, all the way!). Once I have created this look, I am done. I will change the paintings around, rotate the objets d’art or switch this fabric for that or buy more but that’s it. After years of figuring out, we have arrived at a state of nirvana!"

And finally her thoughts on what home means? "I am fascinated by what ‘home’ means to different people. As a project, I have started photographically documenting what it means to me personally and to those that I know. Is it a platform for expressing creativity, a large canvas where you, as the artist, execute your ever-evolving vision? In these times of blogs, Facebook and Pinterest, is it a place that is constantly striving for perfection? In that case, what does perfection mean? New and shiny or layered with the patina of life? "

Thank you Priya for sharing some exclusive images of your gorgeous home and allowing me to use your work to bring your story to our readers! Make sure to catch more of her awe inspiring work on lifestyle inpsirations in her magazine!

Cheers!

~deepa

P.S: all images in this post belong to Priya of Curated magazine and Once upon a tea time

It’s already hot outside! Sweaty hot, Sticky hot, the kind of hot, that makes you want to blast up the AC in your home, turn down the shades, and pretend Summer is not yet here. But it is!!! With Memorial Day behind us, we were all reminded of how pale we had gotten over the Winter. Right…and, also how our curves suddenly seemed to have become more lush, and how our jeans shorts suddenly seemed to have become a little snug…(sigh…!)

But, never mind, Summer is Here!! And so are Saturday visits to Farmers Markets, Sunday sandcastles with the kids, cool cotton tunics and white and turquoise with everything! But what is Summer without a little glow…a little tan…a little leg…and a whole lot of sexy confidence?

Speaking of which, I find that I am less hungry in the Summer, so I find that I eat more healthy, and naturally, I am more thirsty in the Summer, so I drink lots of water and lemonade!. I write this article while continuously sipping Lemonade (of course!) about my top 10 Summer Salads! Full of fruit, (think Watermelon, Strawberries and Mandarins!!) and Greens. Sprinkled with a dash of nuts and smothered with my favorite marinades. Not to forget Avocados. Which almost always infuses a special green tropical delish into my salads.

As you read this, I ask you – comment below for me. Which your favorite salad of all time is!! Will you do that for me? Please?

For now, let’s dive in!

1. WATERMELON BASIL SALAD WITH FETA CHEESE

I am getting you started a summer fresh Watermelon and Basil Salad! Imagine sweltering in a hot summer afternoon picnic or a barbeque and craving the cool and refreshing respite of Watermelon – deemed the world’s healthiest food! I had this salad once when I was in a meat heavy barbeque, where all I could eat was roasted vegetables, and voila, glistening from the middle of the picnic table was this heavenly Watermelon Salad! Ever since, this salad is a staple in my summer menus! Toss cubed watermelons with cherry tomatoes, basil and feta cheese, sprinkle salt and pepper to taste and have for yourself the most amazing salad you’d have ever eaten in your life!! Plus, you cannot get more lycopene than in one serving from any other dish!

2. BLACK RICE & AVOCADO THAI SALAD

Coming up next is my other favorite Black Rice and Avocado Thai Salad! Black rice (also known as purple rice or Forbidden Rice) is a new age, protein filled, box blackening kind of rice, that tastes positively delicious. Legend has it that this Chinese black rice got its name because it was so nutritionally beneficial that only the emperors were allowed to eat it. Varieties include but are not limited to Indonesian black rice and Thai jasmine black rice. I cook mine the regular way, and toss it with some olive oil and tons of Avocados, add a dollop of Thai dressing. Dress with Peanuts and Mandarins. Serve immediately.

3. AVOCADO PESTO SALAD

I fell in love with the Avocado Pesto Salad during my tropical paradise vacation in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As you might have read in my travel and cuisine post, it rains Avocados in Puerto Rico. This easy as pie, salad is my ode to healthy, yet indulgent eating!!

4. STRAWBERY SALAD

This next salad is a just a toss of all my favorite farmers market finds. Strawberries, Strawberries and more strawberries! Of course, a little sprinkle of Vidalia onions and Feta Cheese never hurt any salad. Toss with a lovely balsamic vinaigrette to round out the sweet and tangy taste of the Strawberries.

5. CUCUMBER HALPENO BITES

All moms cheat right? You know that! This particular salad is a great doppelganger for the good ole cupcake. I cheated my twin 4 year olds into believing that these were cool green cupcakes!! Ha ha! Just dice cucumbers into bite sized discs, top with creamy jalapeno crème cheese or mayo, and dress with walnuts and spring onions!! Yummy delish delight!

6. CORN SALSA SALAD

Who does not love corn salsa? Everyone I know surely do!! I was first introduced to spicy corn chaat in the streets of Bangalore. Indian street food vendors have got the formula right. The correct proportions of spices, the right crunch of the corn and the perfect portion size, that always leaves you craving for more, after you have scooped up the last bite from your newspaper cup! So, inspired by Indian street food, I present to you the vibrant corn salsa salad. You can just about add anything to it, including the boring broccoli to take a playful approach to getting your veggies in.

7. ZESTY TZATZIKI

Tzatziki is my quintessential ode to Greek cuisine. Tzatziki combines is cool cucumber, zesty Greek yogurt. Garlic, Dill or Mint, lemon and salt and pepper, to gracefully finish this aaaaahwesome dip/side/just like that accompaniment to pita, chips, wraps or just vegetable slices! Try it this summer! Here’s an awesome recipe.

8. GUACAMOLE

I am not going to belabor good ole guacamole! If you have been following my culinary adventures on Facebook, you will know that I overdo Guacamole to a fault! And you cannot blame me. I have a failsafe recipe for Guacamole, that I will share with you, and hope that try!!! Here it is – Finely dice onions and tomatoes. Add 2 scooped up avocados in a medium size mixing bowl (the brighter, the better!) and add the diced veggies.. Add finely minced garlic, green chillies, cilantro, salt and add a handful of cooked corn to the bowl, and voila your Guacamole is ready!! And call me if you don’t love it! JServe with chips, tortillas and fajitas.

9. FARFELLE PASTA SALAD

The Farfelle salad is a toss together of the leftovers from last night. Commonly known as "bow-tie pasta", the name is derived from the Italian word farfalla (butterfly). If you have some cooked pasta (it could be any kind!) left over, toss together with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, and dress with your favorite veggies. You can never go wrong with bell peppers, onions and peas! Add cheese crumbles and nuts just before you serve!

10. PEAR & ARUGULA SALAD

Arugula and pears flourish during the cooler late-autumn weather. But I do find them in our local farmers market throughout the year! Put them together for a great balance of sweet and piquant. The roasted pear is lightly dressed with a maple-sweetened vinaigrette to accentuate the natural flavor of the arugula.

As I close, I hope you enjoyed this cool, fresh, and easy ode to summer lunches! Also known as PURE SALAD HEAVEN. And maybe even dinners. Be sure to comment below for me. Which your favorite salad of all time is

And I am heading out for a Sunday morning walk right now. Cos, it’s not all about what you eat is it?

Stay Fit and Light this Summer my friends.

Love,

Supriya

Aalayam is going to be a 100 posts old soon!!! And as we draw closer to our century, it’s time to pause and reflect, on all the things that have gone well for us , all the accolades, all the opportunities to be awesome, to make your lives better, and to evolve as artists ourselves. It’s also time to commemorate our team – Deepa and I, and another crucial teammate! Ujwal a.k.a UJ!!

You may be familiar with this photographic work already, replete with crystal clear composition in Deepa’s posts. And today we peek into the desiderata of this artist who is indeed, the pride of Aalayam!

It seems strange that I am actually conversing with UJ 1-1, after such a long time of literally (indirectly!?) working together. UJ is such an integral part of Aalayam. The vision, composition and textures he brings to Aalayam through the pictures he shoots for Deepa’s posts, have been a definite the highlight of our blogging journey so far. Of course, he has a formidable, talented and design diva partner - in Deepa, who I am sure "gently" nudges him to keep coming up with awesomeness for Aalayam!

So, thank you so much, UJ for agreeing to be featured in Aalayam as our star artist, as we countdown to the century of posts!

In a candid Q&A with this interesting and stoic artist, I have tried to intersperse the views, passions and thoughts he brings into this creative work. As always, I aim to get at the core of who the real person behind the artist is, what inspires their work, and how they believe they are making a difference in this melting pot of culture, we are all thrown into in a world far away from home!

Hope you enjoy this post, as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

Supriya

Saguaro cactus silhouette - a beautiful Arizona sunset!

Supriya (S): What got you started as a photographer?

Ujwal (UJ): I remember being interested in photography for a long time. Looking back, I cannot think of any one point in time when I wanted to pursue this as a hobby. My inclination may have had roots in my family’s interest in it. I grew up around cameras and amateur photographers. My mom and uncle were both photography enthusiasts and I grew up watching them shoot for a hobby and discuss their love of the craft. My first request for a camera was at the age of 11-12 and my dad promptly turned it down! I am sure he had some legitimate concerns about his 11 year old wanting to take pictures on a vacation to Goa – this is the Goa of the 80s we are talking about! But that didn’t keep me away from photography. I took pictures with cameras borrowed from friends all the time and then for a while the hobby became dormant only to resurface later when I could afford a camera. I bought a Canon Rebel and there has been no looking back since!

A timely shot- black angus pose for a pic in the backdrop of New Mexico mesas

Bald cypress and and aquatic plants of Caddo lake - a painting in green

S: How do you get the person, place or thing in front of the camera on to the film in just the way you want? Talk to us a bit about how this process works for you

UJ: Patience and practice! For a humorous take on how you get there, take a look at this graph. The art of taking good pictures (ones that ultimately pass my own standards) often take an enormous number of clicks. Over time, photography has definitely evolved into a more earnest hobby – one that I am truly passionate about. Along the way, I took a couple of courses that have helped me make the best use of the equipment that is available these days. The cameras these days seem overwhelming to the end user given the number of features and trickery but in reality they have made the task of taking great pictures much easier.

UJ's mantra for awesomeness!

S: Which photographers have influenced you? How have they influenced your thinking, photographing and career path?

UJ: I have not extensively researched the work of photographers but one photographer whose works I have read is Ansel Adams. It is fascinating to try and understand what makes his work stand out. The play of light and shadow, composition and what he could do given the limited technology available to him represents his genius and that has served as an inspiration. His work among others’ catapulted photography into the fine arts’ league. Ansel Adams has inspired me to take pictures that tell stories. I recognize that you cannot tell a story with every picture but when the opportunity presents itself, I try not to let go.

The devil is in the details - dragon fly!

S: Exactly, what it is that you want to say with your photographs and how do you actually get your photographs to do that?

UJ: I aim for an end result that makes me happy and hopefully that will make my audience or subject happy as well. Personally, I enjoy landscapes and portraiture, which are at the extreme ends of a spectrum from inanimate to animate. But then again, I shoot many other things in between that fall into the broader realm of lifestyle photography including arts &crafts, culture and styled home décor for Deepa and they have all contributed to the learning.

Vancouver harbor shimmers under the nigh lights.

S: Do you enjoy clicking for Aalayam? How is it like working with your spouse on creative projects for the blog? (I ask this tongue in cheek!)

UJ: Taking pictures for the blog has been a lot of fun and a great learning experience as it comes with its own unique challenges. Most pictures are shot indoor and Deepa often envisions a certain persuasive look that involves the creative use of equipment to get a picture we both like. Deepa is a tough client but in meeting her requirements for an assignment, I have been able to unceasingly work on my technical skills. Taking good pictures for the blog has its own perks. Wink!

Temple architecture - intricate details enhanced by the play of light and shadow

S: What technology/software/camera gear do you use to keep focused on what you do best, as you photograph?

UJ: I currently shoot with a Nikon D800 and a D7000. My first foray into photography was with a canon rebel film SLR and canon G series digital camera as backup. Then I moved camps and have stuck with Nikon for the last 7 years. Choice of brand is only a personal preference as these brands stand head to head in technology. I generally shoot with prime lenses even though it takes lot of walking back and forth. The only software I use for cataloguing and categorizing is Adobe Lightroom. I limit my processing to lightweight exposure correction only. I use a custom workflow in Lightroom for naming, importing, cataloging and archiving processes, which makes it easier to manage the thousands of pictures from our travels and projects.

Portraiture - Deepa

Anirudh learns to bike and it is captured in a panned shot!

S: So, is it the lens or is it the man behind the lens? We are dying to know what your secret is!

UJ: As one gets better, equipment matters less and skills matter more. I would like to believe I am beginning to tip the weight on the skills side J

S: UJ, we are given to understand that photography is a hobby for you, but you do it fantastically. Would you ever consider photography as a full-time profession?

UJ: Thank you. I’ve only got a lifetime’s worth of learning to go before considering the career switch.

Macaroons anyone?

S: How, in your opinion, does your photography art contribute to the preserving of culture?

UJ: Via photography I have learned to appreciate beauty and diversity and I love how images come to life to tell a story. Deepa and I seek adventures - even cultural ones. Often, I find myself recording an intimate cultural event at home as a way of preserving for our son and at other times I am capturing a snap shot of global culture on one of our travels. Photography is a vigorous medium and to be able to interpret culture through the use of light, color and technology has been fun. No matter where you go or how the culture differs, everyone likes to stop and admire a good picture!

Temples of the Grand Canyon. A shot well worth the wait for the right lighting!

S: Finally, what does a Weekend In The Life Of Ujwal look like? (I say Weekend, as I know you work full time on "non-photography" related work! And I am assuming, you shoot with your beloved lens on weekends only) I'd like to zone in on your other creative/intellectual interests as well here.

UJ: Weekends are when we as a family unplug and unwind. Deepa and Anirudh take precedence and thankfully the 3 of us share many common interests such as enjoying a game, exploring the outdoors, reading, whipping up a meal or hosting friends. Of course, work occupies the background but the tempo is simmered down. I relish the outdoors and after a 17-year hiatus, I recently bought a motorcycle and am slowly rediscovering the joy of being a rider again. I believe that weekends are a respite – a good work out, playing tennis, listening to music, and photography all play into that. Our weekends are an eclectic stew of fun and creative pursuits!

The artist with his work - top right (natural landscape), Taughannock falls, NY and bottom right (urban landscape) - cattle drive - Pioneer plaza, TX

Thanks a bunch UJ for opening your heart out to us. And for tirelessly working to increase the curb appeal of Aalayam!

Love & Hugs,

Supriya & Deepa

We are going to be a 100 posts old soon! And this is the perfect poignant moment for us to flash back, and peek forward.

The poster above is a fantastic peek forward to the COUNTDOWN TO A CENTURY!!

To, all the posts that are in the offing, those celebrate the

TRUE SPIRIT OF AALAYAM!!

And here’s a flashback. At all the humbling feedback, comments and love we have received – just a tip of the iceberg over the course of the last year and …..94 posts!!!

I pause to say Thanks once again for letting Aalayam grow this big. Without your validation, we would not have come this far!

Love,

Supriya

“Lovely read, great pictures, an awesome new perspective, such an interesting personality..loved it...”

“Goodness...why don't I meet people like you guys? :D Kudos…”

“You've got me kindled girl :-) Planning parties is something I L.O.V.E! Your ideas are brilliant! “

“Delighted to see the new artist feature series on Aalayam…”

“The Indian in me just woke today( once again) to realize that yes! no matter how contemporarily I decorate my home ,the touch of India is always home for me …”

“My first visit here, read a couple of posts and I am already fond of all that is being shared here. Following you now on :) Thank you for sharing all those beautiful and thought-provoking sketches. They did make me pause and think about the message being sent across…”

“You have a great blog here and I am enjoying every post of yours... the photographs are wow and the inspiration is infectious! I will be landing here more often! “

“You have introduced us to some very interesting people and their interesting work! Keep it up in the New Year and a Very Happy New Year to both of you and your families! “

“You just inspired me and exuded positivity, warmth and encouragement with this. Hats off to the team!”

“Supriya and Deepa! Thank you very much for your valuable time and effort in depicting my home so aesthetically! and also providing me a with a wonderful platform. I wish you all the very best for Aalayam! “

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Today's post is dichotomous! It runs rampant with some well founded thoughts opined by my left brain, and a pictorial guide presented by my right brain! Hooked? Read on.

"...The modern Saint Valentine's Day celebrations are said to have been derived from both ancient Christian and Roman tradition. Popular legend has it that under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues because the Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. Saint Valentine aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and beaten to death with clubs and had his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honor of a heathen god. On these occasions, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.

And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feast. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way..."

And here's the modern day version!

An anxious beau braves the snow and sub zero temperatures in the middle of the night, to place handmade placards professing love, in a conspicuous roundabout in our neighborhood. He or she (!!) has about 9 hours time, before their object of affection, wakes up..gets dressed and decides to drive out ....or the City landscape crew decide to play Grinch and take the signs down. whichever is earlier.!! (scroll to the bottom of this post for the picture of this sweet proposal!)

Touching right? Let's see if this turns out to be a Hallmark story, or has a disastrous ending. In any case, in true blue romantic spirit, we will celebrate Valentine's Day at Aalayam. I, Supriya, am personally a Valentine's Day Grinch, I think. However, in order to commemorate the occasion, we bring to you tips and tricks to dress up your MASTER BED ROOM!! (Ahem!!!) for comfort, rejuvenation and maybe...recreation!!

Don't get me wrong. Valentine's Day is as good a day as any to profess your love to your significant other..or your dad..or your mom..or your daughter, neighbor, grandmother, mailman, doorman and yes, even your work spouse!

Yes..What originated as a commemoration of a 4th century clash between priest and a ruler, is now a commercial megathon shopping event which raises collective expectation at the idea or receiving a Valentine (as even a single long stemmed rose, card or heart shaped chocolate, is now called) from a poor (have you seen the prices out there?), unimaginative soul who is, thankfully, not short of ideas anymore, courtesy, the reminders and suggestions from all the targeted advertising in his smartphone, email and Facebook profile!! Phew!! Happy Valentine's Day!

I remember the time when I was single, I used to dread Valentine's Day. Me, and all my other single friends would get together and buy each other long stemmed roses, make a night out of it, cussing the commercial fanfare that our committed friends were partaking in, at the same time secretly hoping that it was our turn this year. We did not turn off our phones right until the phone clock showed 12:01, 15th February.

We refreshed our emails..checked and rechecked our text messages .. We knew we were being victims to the whole cycle of repressed expectation that the media, the greeting card companies, the malls, the florists and the whole world in general, set up for that day. I remember even going home early one particular Valentine's Day from work, because I could not bear the fact that the girl across the desk from me had 12 dozen long stemmed roses delivered to her hour on hour, on the hour. She was twittering (the old fashioned way..Thank Heavens!) and gushing effusively... and the heady floral fragrance was giving me a headache...Sorry. I love you..but my head rules my heart!

Do you know how the numbers stack up? It is a $16 Billion industry. Not a pittance mind you, recovery or not! While we enjoy some design secrets to have that "ooh-aah" worthy master bed room, lets look at 10 incredible facts about this 16B$ Valentine Day shopapalooza.

53% of women in America would dump their boyfriends if they did not get them anything for Valentine's Day
The average U.S. consumer is expected to spend $116.21 on Valentine's Day gifts, meals, and entertainment
Men spend double what women spend on Valentine's day: $158.71 compared to $75.79
141 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged worldwide and an estimated 198 million roses were produced for Valentine's Day in 2013; about 110 million roses, mostly red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period this year
People will spend $1.7 billion on flowers this Valentine's Day -- 73% are bought by men, 27% by women

15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's day
Chocolate and candy sales reach profits of $1,011 billion
Spending on jewelry is expected to reach $3.5 billion this holiday; 17.3% of people are likely to buy it
11% of Americans will be engaged on Valentine's Day
According to a Durex survey, condom sales are highest around Valentine's Day -- 20 to 30% more than usual (So, now, does the master-bed room post make sense? ;))

Enough said...I sometimes wonder, if we did not have these commercially declared excuses to spend money, how would the economy be stimulated? Does Washington have anything to do with Valentine's Day?? Mr. O, what are you getting Michelle this year? :)

Closer to home..How long will Meahgan and her beau survive this fresh, sweet, unconditional love which has nothing to do with expectation..if she decides to say Yes?

Let's talk!!!

Disclaimer: This post is not intended to hurt the feelings or sentiments of any of our readers or their beaus. Least of all, of any of the commercial establishments that make a buck out of someone else's feelings or sentiments!

Love,
Supriya

Desi chic - Deepa's block printed kurti with a gota patcwork dupatta makes a great evening ensemble!

And we are back with our countdown to a century series! We plan to celebrate fashion, technology, décor, friendships and more as we inch towards our 100^th post. So, join us for an interesting line-up of posts over the next few weeks.

Supriya and I do not consider ourselves to be fashion maniacs by any stretch of imagination and yet we are fashionistas (in our own right) and we decided to publicize our personal style on Aalayam today in an effort to decode the logic of fashion.

Ballet flats and bohemian bangles - personalize every look!

We differ in our sartorial preferences but agree that fashion must be an expression of individualism. In a world where we are constantly judged for our appearance and external identities (sadly!) one cannot ignore the importance of fashion/style to our everyday existence. Also, our interest in fashion is an extension of our interest in culture and creativity. Fashion is after all integrally tied to contemporary culture and so it felt right to talk about fashion on Aalayam.

So, join the conversation dear readers. As always, this post is sprinkled with pictures -we’ve put together some outfits to tell our fashion story.

Supriya believes in bold statement accessories!

Tell us what comes to mind when you hear the word fashion – clothes, accessories, outfits, style, trends, and habits – all of the above perhaps? What guides your fashion sense - your moods and instincts or runway looks and trends? Are you a risk taker? What about the design and the details? Do brands matter? Do you believe appearance can positively influence attitude and in turn your self-image and sense of self-worth? Do you like what you wear or do you find yourself envious of another person’s looks? Does fashion overwhelm you? Do you feel like you are in a style rut? Or do you believe your personal style is a reflection of your inner self?

The classic black dress - accesorise with a colorful bag to transition seamlessly to an after hours get together!

So many questions! And we certainly don’t claim that we know all the answers but we definitely have some thoughts.

Supriya's Colorful embroidered shoes stand on their own!

What we have learnt is that fashion much like everything else is a process and it has taken us a few years to discover who we are and to look in the mirror and say, “That’s what I like!” Through this process we have learnt to wholeheartedly accept and embrace our unique and personal sense of style.

Deepa's bow tie shoes are perfect for a little summer fun!

Sure, we have fashion muses but at the end of the day our look is our own and we wear it with aplomb! We have also learnt to let our outfits inspire us to be the best that we can be - fashion is not just about boots, belts or scarves it’s also about confidence and charisma and positive outlook and feeling good inside! Remember, a smile is the best way to accessorize!

Supriya and I decided to capture our fashion sense in a few phrases and here is what we came up with-

Supriya’s fashion catch phrases

Lots of kajal

Never afraid of bling (gold and jewel tones)

Dusky, shimmery eyes

Nude/glossy lips

A touch of sparkle

Huge bags that carry everything

Statement shoes!!!

Clothes that fit my body, not the other way round

Never the one to follow trends or fashion mantras

Her fashion mantra –“ it’s all about what feels good and what makes me feel good”.

My (Deepa’s) fashion catch phrases

Classic, time –tested styles, elegance and sophistication

Tailored clothes

Complimentary accessories – the scarf is my all time favorite accessory!

Kohl lined eyes

Black – because it is beautiful

A touch of the unexpected – lace, polka dots, metallic accents, a pop of color!

Shoes – a girl can never have too many!

Haute- sunglasses!

My fashion mantra – If I don’t feel it, I don’t wear it

Now, there's our fashion story - what's yours? Do you believe you have a trendy persona? Sound off! Tell us about how you approach fashion?

We will back soon with our next post in the countdown to a century series! Did you like this post? Check out our other feature posts on fashion and trends here, here and here.

Cheers!

~Deepa

“Technology doesn't make us into new kind of humans, rather, it just alters the environment in which we act”

Yes, we are slaves to it, and it frustrates the living daylights out of us, it is a double-edged sword, but Technology IS the life blood of our existence! It is the lubrication to our relationships, the primary channel of our communication and a boon to virtual existence. From few cent phone calls that connect families across thousands of miles, to Bharatanatyam dance lessons taught via Google Video, smart technology on tap is now a new norm in an evolving generation. And I say that because I am an avid participant in this norm.

My kids are clamoring to instantly see the pictures that I take of them on my Smartphone, and want me to share it immediately in my social network. I do that in a matter of seconds. And there I share back with my kids, the slowly growing “Likes” and “Comments”, real-time. This instant sharing of virtual dialog has become the basic expectation today in our world, where Wi-Fi, Smartphone battery and Facebook have become THE basic necessities of everyday existence.

With this premise, it is interesting to see how relationships are evolving in the seismic environment of Smartphone Apps. I remember bringing home a Gold Medal in college, after having won a intercollegiate debate favoring technology as a boon to our relationships, contrary to the rebuttal team that argued that technology was ruining relationships. And I stand by what I argued 14 years ago. Technology, if used right, can enable and enrich relationships cast adrift by time and distance. As a wise person once said “Technology doesn't make us into new kind of humans, rather, it just alters the environment in which we act”

And to bloom in the environment in which we act, we need our girl friends don’t we? Whether for after work margaritas, or during work vent sessions about your day, girlfriends form an important salve to our egos and a sounding board to our sensibilities. And add to the mix the fact that your girlfriends are spread all over the world – in four different continents, you have no choice other than to rely on the heaven send technology (Read Apps and Widgets) available at your fingertips to engage in constant dialog with your gal pals!

The “Never trust a woman who doesn’t have girlfriends” graphic above conveys my take on what it means to have those all important female friendships alive in our lives. Girlfriends often remind us of who we are, individualistic, and independent, who we were before we assumed the layers of distinction to our personalities as wives, career women, and mothers. They accept our flaws, our personality whims, and the quench our desire to talk, whine, moan and vent unquestioningly, and untiringly.

They form the strongest support system to help us navigate through the murky waters of infatuations, failed romances, spousal relationships, societal expectations, career hardships and family politics. They stand by our side (albeit virtually) and give us the confidence to wipe our tears, reapply our mascara and face the darn world!

And they are the first ones to crack open the bubbly when we get something we've really worked hard for – be it the loss of those last 5 pounds, or the start of the entrepreneurial venture of our dreams!

Girlfriends have been providing the ammunition to our artillery from long gone years. But today, in 2014, they do it via WhatsApp, Facebook, Gmail and Skype! They are constantly by our bedside, tempering our tantrums, reminding us to breathe, cheering our awesome presentation, and oohing and aahing about our babies’ impromptu guitar recitals. What would we do without our precious girlfriends?

Technology & Girlfriends – as you might have gleaned by now, are strangely inseparable bed fellows! They feed our need for validation, they nurture our desire to share, and they also allow for a well adjusted grown woman like me to retain my youthful spirit (which trust me, can die very quickly with familial responsibilities and career aspirations!)

The story board shots peppered throughout this article show you the various zany ways in which Deepa and I use technology, to share, collaborate, plan, and self publish!! Technology is certainly not going to be belabored anymore today in this article. You and I both know all the awesome Apps out there which enable information sharing, crowd sourcing and collaboration. And we also have heard cautionary tales of a over-mediated society that has cyber bullies, identity thieves and perverted psychos lurking in its dark underbelly. But what’s going to be reinforced today is this:

Technology merely enables what is already strong. It is not the mannah for everything that’s broken. It’s a medium that we need to use, in an intelligent and intuitive fashion to come closer to things that matter to us.

I leave you with a question. Do you think we are getting closer to our friends with technology? I certainly am. As you see (touch-wood) in all the pictures in the storyboards, my relationships with my girlfriends around the world is going strong thanks to the constant chatter we keep up with tech Apps. But, the foundation for these relationships was built years ago, unshakable, unquestionable and unchangeable…….

What do YOU think?Let's discuss.

Love,

Supriya

P.s All the images storyboarded in this article are created by Supriya and copyrighted to Aalayam. They should not be used without permission.

As we step in style towards our 100^th post, allow me to bring to you today’s Frontier girl. Globetrotter. Fashionista. Academic. Connoisseur. She who owns her personality, her drive and her ambition. She who does not apologize for who she is. She who carries on with her rai·son d'ê·tre with zeal and zest!

Today, let me introduce you to my (baby?) sister – Sripriya, almost a decade younger, but packing in the maturity, verve and chutzpah I constantly admire. Today’s Frontier girl – Sripriya everyone!

Supriya: How is it living by yourself in a foreign country?

Sripriya: It is one of the best things of being in a foreign country, the joy of living by yourself. I was excited the minute I started looking for apartments. I chose one of the perfect size and made sure it was close to work (the more number of times you can hit the snooze button). It was a wonderful experience choosing the right pieces of furniture, building some of them with expert advice from an Ikea manual, and decorating the apartment to reflect my personal style. Living away from home and working long hours, I wanted to make sure it was a comfortable and cozy haven that I would love to come back to every evening. I bought cushion covers in bright blue to go with handmade paintings from my friends.

I made sure to have enough potted plants to add to the necessary green (and some serious Skype advice from my mother who is a botanist). My kitchen is laden with spices I carried from India, had shipped over or bought at local Indian markets here in Germany. Cuisine that I wasn’t particularly fond of while I was back home (read Puliyogre and various other forms of mixed rice) became my first choice as they are easy to prepare at the end of a very tiring day.

Living alone also made me realize my joy for cooking (only because there is no Maggie available at most stores here). There is a certain sense of happiness I derive from the whole act of putting a dish together. From the aroma that wafts from a perfectly done seasoning, to the creamy layer that forms over a cooling dal, every small thing that I took for granted back home or rarely ever noticed is a source of joy and becomes a sense of accomplishment.

Thankfully, the people around me enjoy Indian cuisine and are always ready to try something new. A current favorite of mine is the alu-methi roll, which is potatoes and fenugreek leaves rolled up in a Mexican wrap bought off a store rack (bonus point: Not time consuming!).

Living in Germany also means you don’t have to know how to drive a car. I love the public transport system here which gives you the time to pick up your favorite book and have a few pages done by the time you get to work, or when are getting back from a tiring day. For the better months of the year, when there is no fear of getting a frost bite, I use my bicycle to get to places.

It is refreshing to bike on a countryside road or on cobblestone, all new experiences for someone who only ever biked on hired bikes in holiday destinations. It is perfect to bike through Germany’s various parks and natural reserves, find a lake to sit and watch the sunset, read a book or have a picnic.

When did travel bug get to you?

I got the letter of acceptance for my master’s program in May 2012. Until then, I had never traveled on an international flight, let alone by myself. After having completed my first trip abroad alone, there has been no looking back. The joy of getting on to a flight and waking up in a different country miles away on a different time zone is a completely exhilarating experience. It is fitting to the age old promise made our parents on a road trip ‘’by the time you wake up, we are going to be there’’.

I would say the travel bug got to me when I first turned back my watch 12 hrs after having landed in Washington DC (that’s half a day gained! Woot).

Since then I have traveled to New York to meet long lost friends from college, Turkey to celebrate Easter, Italy to cry tears of joy over heavenly food, Denmark to visit one of the world’s oldest fantasy parks.

I have a special fondness for Sweden as it was only 20 mins away by ferry. Czech Republic to spend 4 warm days in historic city Prague, Netherlands to photograph beautiful Dutch landscapes and have traveled around Germany which has been my place of residence for approximately 4 years where I currently strive hard on my PhD project which primarily focuses on cancer causing viruses.

Photography for fun?

Another plus side I attribute to living away from home is my new found love for photography. It started out as a simple gesture to capture my moments in a foreign land and pass it on to my friends back home. I got back some great response via social sites like Facebook about how I could take it to the next level. I did just that.

I started sharing my photographs in 2011 via my page on Facebook- Sripriya Murthy Photography. I posted mostly black and white photographs for the first year and then moved on to color photography. I then went on to do a 365 photo a day challenge last year to make sure I didn’t lose my drive for the art or the enthusiasm to share my photographs.

Here's the link for my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sripriya.murthy.9

I am glad that in the process of the last 3 years, I have gotten to do landscapes in various cities, done customized photo shoots for Aalayam, shot for dance schools, done model photo shoots, shot 2 graduation ceremonies, 5 weddings and I am in the process of completing a couple of maternity photo shoots. Thanks to my album titled ‘’Backpacking across Europe’’ my virtual audience believe I am literally going from one city to the next lugging my Nikon with me and posting photos regularly.

On the contrary, I travel only if I have to go on a business trip or have a conference to attend (or a few days off for Easter or Christmas). I am mostly leading the life of PhD student on other days where I work for about 12 hrs a day, eat, read and sleep only to wake up and do the same thing the next day.

Fashion, style, statement?

Living in a country where the temperature is 10 degrees half the time, I swear by scarves and earrings as they are practically the only things that are seen over your bulky winter jacket. I have a collection of earrings that goes over 200 pairs and yet as with everyone’s wardrobe, there are only a few pieces that I swear by.

I am also extremely fond of open shoes, but unfortunately get to wear them only for a few weeks or months based on how long the summer lasts. For clothes I swear by all the kurtis I carry back from home each year, in Europe I shop at H&M or Promod as they both cater to the Indian in me with the motifs and designs they have to offer.

What does Home mean to you?

Living in a country alone, makes you want to cozy up your space with your favorite pieces, photographs, colors and artifacts.

Each and every one of the things I have in my lil warm nook called home is well loved and well worn. Take a peek.

Be it decor, or food, I have brought India home with me to the world!

And it's my friends, who have made me realize who I really am, and helped me find "home" away from home.

Home is also my passion for photography, where I feel like I have come home, with my beloved SLR lens in my hand.

And finally, home is where my heart is, in those fascinating castles, colorful landscapes, soulful markets and the deep, cool recesses of my lab.

Home.....is finally, where I am...........................

Sripriya...that was wonderful. I have trained you well ! ( Just kidding!!)

Thank you for representing all those chicas out there who are just like you, inspiring us to do more, live more and laugh more!

Love always,

Supriya

Ruchika and Sarvpreet enjoy a stroll by the beach - hand in hand!

Welcome back and today I am shining the spotlight on yet another frontier girl as she shares her story of balancing work and home. I am sure this elusive topic resonates (quite loudly) with the majority of us. I am taking you to Columbus, OH to introduce you all to Dr. Sharma –a pediatric oncologist and a dear friend!

Metropolitan columbus - a great midwest city with a bustling art scene and a fun entertainment district

Being a physician myself, I know that professional demands can be challenging at times. But over the years, I have learnt to roll with the punches and understood the critical importance of work-life balance. We all have this image of a perfect life that does not always reconcile with the realities and conflicting everyday demands and therefore certain necessary life skills have to be learnt. Trade offs and priorities being the big ones!

I admire Ruchika. She is young, ambitious, fashionable, accomplished and an inspiration in her own right and she has a beautiful home!

She spends her days taking care of sick children and in her down time enjoys traveling and decorating her home and of course our countdown to a century would not be complete without a home tour and we could not have asked for a better home! Ruchika and her wonderful husband Sarvpreet graciously agreed to feature their contemporary style abode on Aalayam and I am excited to pull back the curtains and share this beautiful home with all of you!

In conversation with Ruchika

Ruchika on what drew her to Pediatrics –“I grew up in New Delhi, India and moved to the US for my residency training in pediatrics. I love taking care of children and always wanted to be a pediatrician. Currently I'm training to be a pediatric hematologist in Columbus, Ohio.”The path to becoming a physician is a long and arduous one and staying true to one’s calling takes an enormous amount of hard work and patience as well as a clear vision. Ruchika’s chosen profession is a testament to her commitment and passion for helping others.

Ruchika on balancing priorities – “Being a physician and (being married to a physician!) with a busy schedule presents several challenges to leading an active social life. I realized early on that a fulfilling personal life is super important to retain one’s sanity and to succeed professionally. I try to spend as much time as possible with my loved ones and try to stay engaged in activities that give me personal satisfaction.

Knowing myself and having an honest conversation about things that I can and cannot handle and trimming my to do list to make room for some creative interests has always helped me keep my head above the water.”

Ruchika on her interest in home decor–“I have always liked pretty things and admire beauty! Growing up in a large metropolitan city my design aesthetic is modern contemporary. I love to watch home improvement TV shows and websites for inspiration. I have to say that my husband and I are both home décor enthusiasts.

Collectively, we try to pick decor items that fit our personal style and design aesthetic. We live in a high-rise condo in downtown Columbus as the hustle and bustle of the city keeps us closer to home.We want our guest to feel comfortable and welcome in our home.

We want them to get who we are as a couple; young and vibrant with a clean and modern design style and an eye for uniqueness.”

Ruchika has successfully tapped into her personal interest and through a process of exploration and self-discovery created a contemporary chic nest for her and her husband. I love her home! In spirit, this home matches the young couple’s effervescence and exudes an inviting aura. I love how this charming little home, in the heart of downtown Columbus, stands tall in a fun and gorgeous color palette!

Ruchika on wearing multiple hats “I believe as women we always wear many hats and try to take on a lot of responsibility. It is imperative for us to take out time for ourselves doing things that WE like to do to have a successful career as well as personal life and maintain equanimity when faced with a tsunami!”Wise words indeed!

Thank you Ruchika and Sarvpreet for letting us into your beautiful home!

There you have it – our 2 part series on today’s frontier girl. We chose to feature these two gorgeous (Ruchika and Sripriya), talented, hardworking, passionate, fashion and style savvy women. There is one simple lesson to be learned from their stories and that is to go after your heart’s desire! Often, we let our insecurities and self doubt bring us down but the stories of these young women is a simple reminder that doing what we like and doing it as well as we can is good enough! Hope you are inspired!

And next up is our 100^th!Yes, Aalayam is going to be a 100 posts old! We continue to grow, learn and be inspired ourselves and we are also learning not to get too comfortable or stay focused on any one area, as there is so much to explore. In our countdown to a century series we took some risks and moved away from our travel, décor and culinary posts for a little bit and focused on social media,photography, and fashion. I hope you have enjoyed this as much as we have bringing it to you. In our 100^th, I hope to capture the true spirit of Aalayam. Join me then!

The lounge in Ruchika's downtown high-rise.

Cheers!

Deepa

All pictures in this post belong to Ruchika and Sarvpreet and may not be used without permission. Ruchika’s home pictures were shot by UJ.

100

At Aalayam, we house our creative revelations in the vibrant world of multicultural design, art and culinary diversity. Here, we celebrate the visual and cerebral appeal of world culture. We hope our salvo through this blog enriches your lives as much as it does ours.

Aalayam is the brainchild of Deepa and Supriya. We are passionate about living the good life and by extension we love design, décor, travel, photography, good food, and the vast richness of world culture! The entries in Aalayam will reflect our ethnic Indian culture while juxtaposing the global appeal for readers, followers and pinners from all over the world.

Via feature posts on decor, art and cultural traits, artist spotlights and spicy culinary adventures, Aalayam will strive to be an intellectually, visually and gastronomically stimulating experience for our readers.

Come, stay, and get inspired at Aalayam!

It seems like yesterday that I was brainstorming with Supriya about the mission, content and look and feel for a lifestyle blog that I had wanted to bring to life. With her contagious enthusiasm, Supriya jumped on board right away and I think we found our groove fairly quickly as co-founders. We agreed on the above mission statement as it rightfully captured what we wanted this blog to do for us and for our readers. Today, we are a 100 posts old! It has a been a journey of grit and passion!

I think we both agree that Aalayam fuels our creative energy and allows us to focus on our many interests outside of work and family. But Aalayam is more than us detailing our personal creative explorations, it is also a richly layered blog for the bon vivant and in these 100 posts we’ve covered everything under the sun (no,really!) including gorgeous interiors, ethnic Indian inspirations, talented artists, our personal travel journals, culinary adventures and many other topics. Thank you for joining us in our little space on the WWW. Thank you for joining us on Aalayam. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The Sanskrit word Aalayam signifies “a place of residence”, a confluence of ideas and inspiration. Today, I bring you Aalayam in collaboration with a few of my favorite (absolute!) bloggers . These forceful images of “Home or Aalayam” will knock your socks off! I admire these bloggers. Their work incorporates ethnic Indian roots and global elements seamlessly. They believe in handcrafted and vintage while keeping a discerning eye on design trends. They think outside the box and believe in creating beautiful spaces that are true to who they are! They teach us to appreciate imperfections and to fall in love with our homes. And through their blogs they create, they inspire and they delight their readers!

Presenting to you, the fabulous homes of my fellow bloggers. Take a bow ladies- your homes are truly gorgeous and they capture the essence of the word Aalayam.

Shruthi of The East Coast Desi

"Congratulations to the Aalayam Duo on their 100th and I’m excited to be invited back to be a part of a significant milestone that this creative team has achieved. The theme of today’s post Aalayam = home is very close to my heart. Home to me is any place that I can SHARE with the people who mean the world to me i.e. my FAMILY. However,I strongly believe that the ultimate objective of the home making PROCESS is to nurture the mind, body and soul of the individuals who live there. As challenging and delightful as this process may be, it is limited only by two elements, our time and imagination. With no limitations on these two elements, my home is an ever evolving space that is not only reflective of the individual personalities and interests of my family but on a broader level, is a thumbprint of who we are, where we are from and provides us the creative landscape to tell our story of how we got here.

Over the years, the process of diligently collecting, conscientiously curating and lovingly layering our home has resulted in a place that is a personal repository studded with inherited treasures, quirky finds uncovered while scouting the flea markets, objet d’ art found on our travels, and relics that talk about our life’s journey together as a family. I can’t but fall in love with this space over and over again as it provides the secure environment for my family and me to reconnect with each other, recharges our batteries for the next day and helps us realign and stay focused on our priorities that may be overlooked in the demanding hustle bustle of the daily grind.

And finally, signing off and wishing Deepa and Supriya loads of luck and looking forward to many more inspirational and creative posts in the future"

Nayana of Cherish, Dream, Live

Hello!! I am Nayana from blog Cherish Dream Live and it gives me great pleasure to be on this amazing blog authored by two gorgeous and creative ladies. Congratulations Deepa and Supriya on your100th post and cheers to all the soulful, colorful and vibrant posts you regularly feature in Aalayam.

For me, my home is a Sanctuary. A place where my family blossoms and creates warm memories. At home, I love to surround myself with things we love and hold meaning. Of course, we are a real family and our house always doesn't look like it is out of a magazine. So, it is about finding beauty in imperfections.

Karishma of A Treat for the Senses

"Hello everyone! I am from India and am currently living in Seoul. I love to articulate my thoughts about all things beautiful through my blog, ‘A Treat for the Senses’ which is where my love for writing, photography, art and decor comes to life !

My husband and I started with a blank slate in South Korea in an unfurnished apartment that had unadorned walls and quiet corners when I walked into it for the first time. The last six months have been a beautiful experience as we undertook this journey to turn what was just a ‘house' into ‘our home’. I have befriended this brick and mortar structure as I took up the joyous task of doing it up, texturing and layering it with plants, books, cushions, ceramics, art and everything else that is pleasing to my senses. My flea market finds, family heirlooms, gifts from dear friends and personal art breathes life and vibrancy into its various nooks and corners.

Our home is also an extension of our personalities, and I love the visual symphony that it has emerged to be over the last few months; a union of the aesthetic sensibilities of two different individuals with their own likes and preferences. I always compare our home and the process of doing it up to the creative high of working on a painting for it is not very different to blending different strokes and colors on a blank canvas to arrive at a beautiful piece of art that is your own creation, one that you cherish and love. Our ‘casa’ truly is my drawing board, a place that I love to start and end my day with."

Shalini of All Things Nice

"I'm an Interior Design and Architectural consultant by profession and I run my own design firm, SPDA. When I'm not designing homes, I blog! My blog’s called All Things Nice, because, well it’s basically about everything I think is cool and interesting! Although the blog is about design and home decor, I also blog about a whole bunch of stuff- things as random as my love of afternoon tea, to where I love to eat.

Home to me is a retreat. It’s a place you can escape to at the end of the day and a place you can be yourself. More than current trends, it should reflect who you are, where you’ve come from and where you hope to be. So for me, my home is an amalgamation of the ethnic, the modern and the quirky, but most importantly it’s a place both my husband and I can just be comfortable and be ourselves."

Anu of My Dream Canvas

"I am Anu from My Dream Canvas. I am here to congratulate Deepa and Supriya on Aalayam's 100th post. They have created a superb blog. The blog is an absolute pleasure to read :)

I put my heart and soul into designing my spaces. My home is a labor of love because it gives me the opportunity to weave my own unique story. My home tells the story of my family, our roots, our adventures, and shared experiences. It’s filled with the people I love. My favorite books line some of my shelves. There are souvenirs from our travels, along with my favorite photographs. I have pieces from weekend visits to flea markets and antique store finds that I could not resist. My home is also filled with our hopes and dreams. It records our victories and the obstacles we have overcome. I hope that it is a story that my children will carry with them. I want them to reflect back on their childhood home as a place of comfort and immense joy :) So the design is simply a means to an end. I don’t really focus on the mechanics of the design, because I want my home to evoke a warm fuzzy feeling at the end of a long day! Ultimately, the home is much more than just a menagerie of exquisite décor items.

My favorite pieces go back many decades. They are heirlooms that were bought by my Grandparents. These then passed down to my parents. Now, they grace my home.

These pieces give a sense of timelessness to my home. These precious things have an eternal beauty. They follow no trends, but they will never go out of style. They fit perfectly in my home.

Since my home is a narrative of my family’s journey, it evolves with time. I look back at my own house and it looks very different from what it was before. There have been no dramatic or architectural changes but a few subtle changes have crept in. My home has grown with me :)

I wish you all luck in evolving your homes as your journeys continue"

Kamini of Saffron and Silk

"My home is a place that houses both the people and the things I love. It is not, and never will be stationary -- it is palpable, mobile, and temporal, bathed in ever-changing light, and a gorgeous culmination of my energies - of loving, dreaming, caring and sharing.

To those who come to my home, I would hope that it gives them an insight into the kind of person I am, or strive to be. Old family photographs on the wall would give them a clue that my ancestry, my heritage and my family, above all else, is the most important thing to me. Decor pieces that have long been in my family, chipped and scratched over time but lovingly displayed would tell them that for me the value of anything lies in its history and its soul, not its price tag at a store. Souvenirs collected during travel would tell them I am a gypsy at heart. The bold colors would hopefully hint at my Indian heritage. My dogs with their torn blankets and pillows would tell them in no uncertain terms that I am an animal lover and my dogs are my kids."

Most of all my home is my oasis - a place for me to indulge my creativity, a place that nurtures my senses and my soul."

Priya of Once Upon a Tea Time/ Curated

"Home, to me, means so many things. It's wherever my family is. It's a place of refuge and a place to recharge. Over that last year, we have moved homes and it has led me to examine what my relationship to my home is.

One thing that has become clear is that I can recreate it wherever we are, so it's not tied to a specific size, building or location. All I need are my collection of vintage fabrics, our boxes of books and my art. It's not about perfection nor is it about matchy-matchy decor. I guess what I am trying to say is that rather than having a decor mantra, home to me is about living surrounded by the people and things I love."

Lakshmi of Celebrations Decor

"Home-A slice of simplicity and Warmth

To describe a little more - I would say it is a complete reflection of a whole bunch of childhood memories and nostalgia.The colours and culture that we have been brought up in,a little spirituality and a style of our living and everything that we love.

Childhood memories as little as the lucky little red seeds called "Manjadikuru"collected, nostalgic memories of the green big leaves and incessant rains and the colors and the culture of the South of India.

The elements of nature, refreshing colors and warm textures -that's what fills my space at home. Having always valued the simplicity of the old world home interiors, popular for their warm and friendly ambience, my home mainly focuses on texture, grace and charm. One can find various elements from the past in my decor.We love the simple elegance that exudes traditional style "

There you have it! 8 prolific bloggers and home decor divas who have managed to create beautiful homes with a timeless appeal. Pay attention to their words, dear readers, for it will inspire you to believe in the home making process and fill your own Aalayam with charm and soul. I thank all these passionate and articulate women for coming together to help me bring such an artistic post to life.
Supriya and I continue to be energized by our vision and stand poised to execute. Here's to Aalayam's next chapter!

Cheers!
~Deepa

P.S: all images belong to the bloggers/homeowners. Do not use without permission!

Touched by the rousing feedback we received over the celebration of a century of posts, I sit and contemplate about what lies in the pipeline for Aalayam, as I look at this vignette arrangement in my living room. Image from Supriya's home.

Its time to plan ahead. We rarely sit on our laurels, so anxious are we to keep you engaged our dear readers, eager to keep you coming back for more, determined to keep you wanting more out of Aalayam.

Deepa and I look forward to figuring out how to make our little niche grow larger. We have been talking about it quite a bit. With Aalayam in the next 100 posts, we aspire to reach a wider audience, we hope to activate a lot more everyday inspiration, and of course, we aim to have tons more fun, and get more edified along the way. So, you get it, the key word here is MORE!

MORE inspiration, MORE information and MORE cultural curation.

In all the everyday spectra that matter to us - Life, Home, Culture, Food and Art.

So I went to you. Our market, our niche, our crowd. I started asking first in my social media network. I asked you to voice your opinion. One of the most crucial drivers of Aalayam's success over the last 100 posts.

I asked you this question: "As we strive to make Aalayam bigger and better, what are the kind of posts you'd like to see?"

You responded with fabulously formed opinions on your desire to see different posts in Aalayam, about various things that mattered to you!! I can only feel fulfilled that you engaged, that you participated in the whole planning process for Aalayam.

I promise you, I will work with the editorial team to bring to you what you want to see. Because you matter. You truly do.

Here's the list of your responses. In all candor, no edits.

Deepa sends her love and her well curated inspiration straight from the heart of Paris. Stay tuned for more party planning, decor, travel and casa related posts from all over the world from Deepa's scribe. Image from Deepa's home.

That is a good list don't you think? But I still have one more, very vital group to ask the same question - you fellow bloggers!!!! Here goes.

"As we strive to make Aalayam bigger and better, what are the kind of posts you'd like to see?"

I really want to know. So please tune in and comment. Without you guys, and your constant patronage, Deepa and I would have let our enthusiasm get dampened. But you kept us going. So we want to hear from you. Tell us, what you want to see, and we will make it happen.

Love,
Supriya

p.s. STAY INSPIRED.

Courage, Grace, Friendship and Enigma. Words that describe today’s featured artist. But words that do not do complete justice to her earthy charm, and the noble cause she espouses

There is some attraction about this gorgeous lady, who lives a continent away, that draws me to her. It’s like we are long lost friends, bound by an inexplicable connection, although we have never met, or spoken. We seem to be kindred spirits, with similar aspirations and matching unflagging positivity.

I feel it only apt that I am so taken with what she says, and how she says it. I am agog with excitement to view her curated collections. I always watch to see what she is wearing, because trust me, Hema is very well put together, she is a global desi and wears her pochampally, kanjeevaram, ikkat and kalamkari with aplomb! I am eager to see her brand babies, as and when she conceives them. I am keen to read her responses to my questions, and I am ecstatic to share her with you, my dear Aalayam family!

Presenting to you Hema Subramanyam, and her eco-socio brand of terracotta accessories – Color D Earth.

Hema designs terracotta (clay) accessories – earrings, necklaces and matching sets, replete with sublime color & intricate aesthetic . She also designs terracotta Ganeshas, chotchkies and home accessories. She has a warm, welcoming and rustic looking studio full of color and life in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Apart from this brick and mortar establishment, Hema curates her accessories via her website www.colordearth.com.

I for one, know that I will visit Hema’s Color D Earth studio, and come back with tons of goodies for me and my friends (desi and videsi), whenever I am in that part of the world. Take a peek inside her studio, you will fall in love.

Terracotta has always held allure to me. I used to buy it in Desi Angadi in Bangalore, and exhibitions at Chitra Kala Parishat. I would love to wear them with Khadi Kurtas or Kalamkari Sarees. I still own a few pieces of this earthy gem. And I bring it out now and then whenever my nostalgia for home is paramount.

What attracted me to Hema’s brand Color D Earth ,is that it’s one of a kind. Not a cliché, it’s true. The designs that we see, are like those never seen before in the realm of terracotta. Jewelry brands a dime a dozen these days, and it take a keen eye of a jewelry connoisseur to get drawn to a brand, and to stay enamored by it. And the positioning that Hema has done to her necklace & earring sets to complement any ensemble, be it a luxurious Kanjeevaram, or a cool cotton saree, is just what is the order of the day. I have even seen her offer terracotta pairings with ensembles with a heavy western influence as well. Now that true cultural translation, being able to work in the fabric of any style….any influence….any continent.

Hema's personal treasure trove...and look how lovingly her sarees wait to be picked.

Now I am hooked, I want to know more about Hema, and what she does. I follow her on Facebook, and she that she is involved in many social causes, she runs Color D Earth as an eco-socio enterprise , she employs many deserving artisans and keeps their families fed and schooled. She also mingles in the entrepreneurial and academic circles hosting workshops and conferences, talking about her one-woman entrepreneurial journey, educating, inspiring and mentoring many who aspire to be like her. Her business model is globally appealing, because it is ecologically sustainable, it supports minority artisans, it supports diversity and the best part is (bonus!), her brand is GORGEOUS!

Hema is also a super-mom, juggling everyday commute, school lunches, homework and teenage angst, amidst rubbing shoulders with celebrities and the terracotta’s unsung heros. In the midst of this all, she is always smiling, always exuding positivity & enthusiasm. Always inspiring

That’s what it takes to be a An Artist with a Heart...A Brand with a Soul!

Ladies and Gentlemen – Hema Subramanyam

Hema works with her artists

Supriya (S): Hema, I personally love Terracotta jewelry. They are so versatile. And you seem to have captured the quintessence of Terracotta perfectly in your brand “Color D Earth”. We want to pick your brain to know more about it! First of all, what got you started?? And why Terracotta?

Hema (H): My heart has always skipped a beat when I see anything handcrafted from the vast repertoire of our country’s cultural heritage ! I started working with terracotta as a medium 11 years ago, in 2003, by accident! The psychologist in me, wanted my kids, then toddlers, to glean from the therapeutic benefits of working with clay. I didn’t realise that there was some unfinished business with that medium from some past life! Because nothing else can explain the love I have had for anything related to clay, earth and artisans from that day on J

Wall Mural in Hema's studio

S: Where do you derive your daily inspiration from? What gets you started designing an ornament?

H: As clichéd as it may sound – my mom’s positive spirit, coffee, Bhoomi devi, color, nature, people and art form the ingredients of my daily inspiration J

When you work with a medium as profound as the earth, when you believe that the creativity born of Bhumi Devi is infinite, then art begins to take on a different meaning. Terracotta jewelry was the first kind of jewelry humankind adorned. Terracotta is the bringing together of the 5 elements of nature, the Panchabhoota – earth, water, wind, fire and ether!

I am not a designer by profession, but have always had an eye for aesthetics and detail! I am inspired by geometry, symmetry, balance and intricacy!

I started out wanting to be an HR professional and was a trained vocalist in Carnatic music. Somehow the artist and the professional came together in a way I had never imagined! There was an innate desire to do something meaningful, something that would make a difference! When I started making terracotta jewelry in 2003, we started with the name Alankriti Terracotta Jewelry. I trained 3 women in the craft and worked from home and we handcrafted our own designs. Our color combinations and the finish was what made us stand out!

When you give yourself completely to what you love, then it’s also the start of the journey inward! I am also blessed to have found my inner calling - to champion the cause of terracotta artisans who were not getting the true value of their labour of love! Today I work with 11 artisan groups from across 6 different states who put their fascinating talent and creativity into creating the most exquisite jewelry from riverbed clay!

S: Color D Earth is an eco-socio enterprise. What do you aspire to achieve with that branding, and what have been the highlights of your career as an eco-socio entrepreneur?

H: Initially, we supplied our work to some reputed boutiques in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. Our work was appreciated but we worked on the consignment model which according to me was not working. At the same time I started working with a few other artisan groups who were also struggling. I decided that I had to find a way to make this work! Except I hadn’t the foggiest idea of how to run an enterprise successfully! Barely anyone from my Tambram Iyer family had forayed into business, much less using clay !

Hema smiles brightly as she rolls up her sleeves and brings her designs to life!

It took me 6 years of persevering through some really tough times, making sure I was giving the artisans continuous orders, while still sometimes not breaking even! I was praying for a miracle when I applied and got selected to do the 10000 Women program for Women entrepreneurs! That was a turning point because I was able to learn the key aspects of business that I had been missing out on!

Right after the course, I researched, how handcrafted businesses had grown and discovered that the Social Enterprise model was a for profit model while working for a social cause. This was exactly what I had been doing all along! Color D Earth was born early in 2010. Today we showcase the widest variety of terracotta jewelry from 11 artisan groups across the country at our Studio and our online store – www.colordearth.com. Our forte lies in forging meaningful associations with our wonderful customers from across the globe! Color D Earth is not just a jewelry store but a brand that represents a cause, that stands for the expression of a woman’s individual sense of style!

I was nominated by the US Department of State for the International Visitors Leadership program on Women and Entrepreneurship in March 2012. I travelled across the United States with 11 women entrepreneurs from South and Central Asia for 3 weeks on this prestigious and amazing learning experience!

Last year I was selected as an investee with UnLtd Hyderabad, an organization that finds, funds and supports social entrepreneurs. This has been more often a very challenging yet fruitful learning journey that gets better every single day!

S: Hema, please talk to us about your collaborations. With Fashion Houses, schools and other brands.

H: One of the exciting highlights of our journey this year was being featured in the Fox Traveller channel with the renowned designer duo Shantanu and Nikhil! They brought together the exquisite geometric weaves of Pochampally fabric with terracotta jewelry in a contemporary outfit created for the actress, Yami Gautam.

Check out the Ganesha viewing a laptop, and the Ganesha doing belly crunches!

I am happy to share my journey with students and organizations that are motivating the younger generation to look at social entrepreneurship as a career option

S: How, in your opinion, does your art contribute to the preserving of culture?

H: Terracotta has traditionally been a seasonal occupation. The evolution of terracotta jewelry as an art form has ensured that it’s a sustainable means of livelihood!

Working with our artisan groups on fair trade principles has given them the confidence to hold on to their cultural roots. Each artisan group’s creativity represents their unique heritage and culture.

Hema's family pet, sits undisturbed in her beautiful home

S: Has your creative entrepreneurship changed your everyday perspective - at home, at work and at play?

H: Color D Earth is born out of the culmination of my creativity, inner calling and value systems. I believe in sustainability, preservation and green living. I am in my element when I wear a handwoven cotton outfit/sari accessorised with an exotic piece of earth! I don’t wear any other forms of jewelry anymore!

When it comes to eating, I love my food to be a healthy mix of green and brown. I look for an earthy alternative to everything – jaggery, brown rice, red rice poha, brown rice dosa , multi grain rotis. Thankfully for me, my kids love it too! I make sure we have a creative, eclectic yet nourishing menu planned every week!

Hema, with famous Telugu actress Amala Nagarjun

There’s one thing that I dread - monotony! The true Geminian in me seeks learning, variety and excitement everyday! I love to read about inspiring people, spirituality, fashion. Art and music is the food for my soul. I love the outdoors and go for long morning walks with my daughter Deepthi and our dachshund Elsie. We have tried every possible outdoor sport/activity from tennis to birding to yachting while not particularly excelling at anything J

S: How do you give a modern slant to traditional designs? We see your jewelry being worn with the classic Kanjeevaram and also paired with Guccis. So tell us more!

H: The sheer versatility of the medium of clay gives it the power to be handcrafted by hand into an accessory for ethnic Indian or a contemporary outfit! There was a time when women could not think beyond gold and diamonds to wear to a wedding, but today there is a huge change in their mindsets! Women are looking for that eclectic yet earthy medium to express their unique fashion sense! Women are more socially and ethically fashion conscious than ever before! Therefore their attire and accessories naturally express their attitude! This evolution has been amazing to witness and we imbibe our inspiration from these beautiful women who are not afraid to express themselves!

Today we cater to the woman who likes to wear an ornate piece of earth to a wedding with her finest silks to the woman who likes to wear our trendy terracotta range to work, college, or just anywhere!

S:. Finally, what does a Day In The Life Of Hema Subramanyam look like?

H: I am an early riser. I begin the day with listening to vedic chants while working in the kitchen and getting my teenagers to school and checking on mails and Facebook! A 20 minute oxygen boost with a brisk walk either on the treadmill or outdoors is key to a high energy level all day! I do have the luxury of getting to work at 11, but that is usually after few errands on the way! I get back home early if the kids have exams, but usually at 7:30 and eat an early dinner made by my godsend cook Janaki. For 2 ½ years when we had a kiosk in a mall, I worked 365 days of the year without a day off! Now that we work out of a Studio, we are closed on Sundays! They are the day I recharge by doing the things I love, sometimes doing nothing can be the best thing!

I have some wonderful friends who make my life so much more meaningful! I meet amazing women who are my customers, many turn into good friends! I am part of a few meaningful groups - community service groups and women entrepreneur groups, and attend meetings during the week! I am blessed to have an interesting life! Being a woman entrepreneur means you have to deal with work while at home and deal with home matters at work! I honestly find it difficult to separate the two and quite enjoy the madness of it all!

Hema, you truly are a kindred spirit. I feel we will be very good friends when we meet. It will be a conversation that will not stop.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for agreeing to be featured on Aalayam. I am honored to be featuring you and your brand.

Aalayam wishes you and Color D Earth only the best in the years to come.

Love,

Supriya

We promised that Aalayam would get bigger and better and today we take you on a global escapade of sorts! My husband and I are back from a trip to France. Yes! The trip of a lifetime, really! When we started planning for a summer vacation last fall we unanimously agreed on France, for different reasons perhaps.. still, France was an easy decision.
I had heard of the saying - "everyone has two countries - his or her own and then France" and I know now that it is actually true. I am spellbound by the bistro/cafe culture, sun-drenched village squares, abundant gardens, soul-stirring stamps of gothic, baroque and belle époque architecture, romantic Seine, in -your-face fashion and cultural footprints at every corner.

Our trip was rousing and unforgettable!

I hope to bring you France or at least parts and provinces as UJ and I experienced it via pictures and posts. Despite stretching our legs (quite a bit!) and checking off most things on our itinerary, France left us wanting for more!

Today, I kick off Aalayam’s France extravaganza with Provence. As we planned our vacation itinerary, we did save the very best for the last.

A drive along the Cote D' Azur, taking in the mighty stretch of the French Riviera all the way from St. Tropez to Monaco and stopping in quaint Provencal towns, primed with prospects, was a dream come true for travel enthusiasts like ourselves. This was the last part of our 10-day vacation and we sure did make the most of it!

I hope to do five feature posts (though not consecutively) and cover Provence, the French Riviera, Loire Valley, Paris. There will also be a post on French Chic! So, stay tuned Aalayam readers as we bring global culture right to your doorstep.

Geographically, Provence is a historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône River on the west to the Italian border on the east, and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on the south. (Source: Wiki)

Sadly, we skipped the Lavender Route – blooms last till mid-late August and we were late by a few days (will probably have to go back for it someday!) but instead experienced Provencal life via picturesque hilltop villages perched high on the cliffs along the sparkling Mediterranean.

From the game of Petanque played in dreamy village squares to crisp and food friendly Rose wine to vibrant street markets – we uncovered the real Provence by talking to friendly locals and asking lots of questions! We made stops in 3 interminably alluring villages – Grimaud, Haute De Cagnes and St. Paul De Vence where many of the images for this post come from.

When in Provence ask for Rose wine – the locals prefer this to white wine we were told (by a local wine steward). It is an utterly versatile wine that reportedly pairs well with most foods. We learnt that the rose color is because of the shorter duration of contact of the skin of the red grapes with the wine! In the backdrop of the sun setting over the gleaming Mediterranean, the rose indeed tastes heavenly!

The English call it Lawn Bowling, the Americans call it bowling, the French call it Petanque – a form of boules where the goal is to throw metal balls as close as possible to a wooden ball called cochonnet (source: Wiki). The click of metal balls in sun-bathed village squares is now a part of my Provencal nostalgie!

Strolling through village markets that carry everything from fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, oregano, garlic) to art work to natural dyed fabrics laid out in fortified medieval villages is a perfect way to spend a vacation day (at least for me!) and a great shopping experience (you’ll have to wait for a future post to see my prized Provencal finds!)

In addition, the ramparts of these villages offered moving views of the sea, sky and the mountains making me wish that time would stand still!

Postcard perfect cafes and bistros dot the cobblestoned alleys and sit prettily below rustic Mediterranean homes with prismatic windows filled with blooming bougainvilleas.

The food is exquisite speaking for the freshness of the ingredients and the ambience is spirited reflecting the joie de vivre of Provence!

While the Riviera itself was glitzy and flamboyant (more on that later) these tiny hamlets have managed to retain their primeval appeal and rustic elegance.

They managed to win the attention of masters like Monet, Renoir, Gaugin and Van Gogh back in the day. Art and artists are relevant to Provence even today making it so culturally rich!

My secret love affair with Provence (and a lifetime of longing) made it a must see on our itinerary.

And I am able to bring you some gorgeous imagery thanks to my husband’s perseverance!

But before I leave, I want to share Virginie and Etienne’s darling little store in the village of Grimaud that overlooks the bay of St. Tropez (stop by if you are planning a trip to that part of the world).

The shabby chic elegance of their store is to die for! Selling everything from natural soaps to aroma oils to Provencal fabrics to dried herbs - this store is a shopper's paradise!

A great place to buy gifts for friends back home! For me, a visit to their store was more than just a shopper's pit stop.

I will forever cherish the lively conversation we had with this adorable couple on Provence, French culture, and our mutual love for travel. UJ even managed to thread a few French words into broken sentence stems!

Thank you for telling me all I needed to know as a tourist – Merci Beaucoup! I hope you do realize your dream of opening your Provence store in New York someday Virginie – you know who will be a regular!

and for good measure - a couple more images of indelible Provence!

and

I hope you add Provence to your bucket list if you have not already visited. It is an experience of a lifetime!

There is a nip in the air! The leaves are turning color and the season of celebration awaits us. Aalayam readers, as always we'll jump start your festivities with inspirations from our homes. Supriya is up first with her impressive Dasara Golu display. So, make sure to check back with us in a few days. But for now, take in the sights of Provence and perhaps start planning your own vacation!

Until next time, Au Revoir!

Cheers!
Deepa

P.S: All images in this post are from our personal archives and were shot by my husband. Use without permission is prohibited.

As we get ready for Dasara this week, allow me to indulge in a little bit of a story telling, and in the sharing of pictures from my doll arrangement this year.

Dasara, being my favorite festival of the year got me getting a head start on the arrangements last weekend! Just so I could bring in the inspiration for Aalayam! See how much I love you?

Dasara festival, the biggest Hindu festival, both in terms of scale and mythology, has gotten larger and grander in my wedded home, year after year, since I got married and started orchestrating the festivities. My mother used to make (and still does) elaborate Dasara arrangements in my maternal home, with a 7 step display of Dasara Bombe (dolls), and a scrumptious dinner party for all of our extended family back when I lived with my parents.

Now that I am away from “home”, in the USA, I delve back into my childhood memories, and tap into my child like enthusiasm as Dasara approaches, getting ready to reconfigure my doll display, get into Skype yeladakke visits with all my friends and relatives, and of course, prepare for the Aalayam photoshoots. And it never fails to excite me every single year.

I am delighted that I have two little helpers, my twin 5 year old daughters, who participate with enthusiasm in the storyboarding of the doll set up, negotiate fiercely as to which dolls can be “borrowed” from their collection, vs. not, and generally add a festive buzz to the whole proceeding. And some years, like this one, I have the good fortune of having the grandparents on board the festivities as well, they partaking with delightful joy in the tradition…becoming a child once more….joining in the fun.

You see, that is the magic of tradition, it’s all about keeping the good stuff alive – culture, family ties, mythology & memories. And of course, food ! J (For those who follow me on Facebook, you know what I am talking about)

So, here goes, Dasara Bombe Habba –Aalayam 2014 special !(that’s most of what’s written in Kannada script in the first graphic) from our humble home.

Let’s delve a little bit into the mythology and significance of Dasara. The festival of Dasara is unique in its perception and significance. According to the great Hindu epic Ramayana, Lord Ram killed demon king Ravana on the tenth day of war, that is known as the “Dussehra”. Ravana is said to have abducted Ram’s wife, Sita and was also known as a dictating ruler, and he was vanquished by glorious Rama. As par for the course, Dussehra or Dasara festival symbolizes triumph of virtue over sin or immorality. The end of Ravana meant end of the embodiments of evil and malice.

Forms of celebrations can take on a wide variety of manifestations, ranging from worshipping the goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) to exhibiting colorful dolls on the day of "Bombe Habba" (festival of miniature idols or dolls).There is a legend related to the exhibition of dolls that is also known as Golu. Since the goddess Durga needed tremendous power to fight over evil, all other Gods and Goddesses transferred their power to Goddess Durga and they all stood still as dolls.

to respect the self-sacrifice of these deities during the festival days, Hindus revere dolls that are in shape of particular Gods and Goddesses. Of particular significance is the "Dashavatara". The "Dashavatara" of Indian mythology can be linked to Darwin's theory of evolution. Here are the incarnations: Matsya (Fish), Koorma (Turtle), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha (Half-Man, Half-Lion), Vamana (Dwarf), Parashu Rama (Man weilding an axe), Rama (Man, Ruler), Krishna/Bala Rama (Man, Politician), Buddha (Man, Ascetic), Kalki (Man, Destroyer) are all represented and revered as miniature dolls.

Click here for a picture post full of Dashavatara incarnations, and the mythology behind each incarnation.

Now, let me take you on the grand tour of this year's Bombe arrangement from our home. Let’s start with my favorite arrangement of the lot – The Mysore Dasara procession shall we?

Mysore Dasara is the Nadahabba (state-festival) of the state of Karnataka in South West India. On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jumboo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa(which weighs around 750 kilograms of gold) on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colorful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap where the banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped. According to a legend of the Mahabharata, banni tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their arms during their one-year period of Agnatavasa (living life incognito).

Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war. The Dasara festivities would culminate on Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayatthu (torch-light parade).

Remember, we said that the classic interpretation of Dasara, is revering mythology, but the modern version of it is celebrating everyday life? Next, on to community living, and some fun!

In this most endearing display of “Nammoora Halli” or “Our Village”, I am storyboarding industriousness, sustainable living and entrepreneurship amongst rural Indian women. You see these gorgeous ladies in this display making a livelihood, by cheerfully carrying supplies, pounding spices, driving wagons and acting as the bread-winners in their homes by doing what they do best – nurture, serve and protect.

We then move along to the market place, manned by none other than Mr. & Mrs. Shetty – they symbolize the “vypari” or the merchant in the social strata of India. This particular couple is selling a variety of spices and condiments, waiting to welcome onlookers and customers into their store, whether it just for local gossip, or to make a considerable purchase.

Beware, you cannot fool savvy Mr. Shetty, for he sure will make you pay the price, while still keeping up with the chatter!

Not to be undone, we have Subamma, who has set up shop, right next door. Selling snacks, (they sure are spicy – have you seen how many habanero sauce bottles she has in stock?) and Tiffin, Subamma, calls herself a “Dinasi Angadi” meaning “General Store”, but that’s only because she does not have a food license.

That sure does not stop her from whipping out dosas and idlys by the dozen to hungry travelers. Does it?

We then present an ode to everyday entertainment, far back from the time where there was no 24/7 cable TV, internet and smart phones. Presenting to you the “Grand Circus”, replete with a non-creepy clown, puppets, a ringmaster, magicians and acrobats!

The Indian classical musicians cannot be left far behind. Here they are, orchestrating a “Kacheri” with all their favorite string and percussion instruments, facilitating the conjugal harmony of Krishna and Radha in a swing nearby!

Speaking of conjugal harmony, we have our own take on “happily ever after” with “Winter Wonderland”. Here we have Prince Charming and Princess Incognito serenading each other in a snow filled landscape, replete with magical fairies, elves and friendly trolls rollicking around in a Disneyesque environment!

How enchanting is that?

In Dasara, we revere mythological heroes; however, it only is fair that we honor our real life heroes also for good measure right? Here we have the local firefighters in a daring rescue mission, carrying a baby out of a smoky building.

Standing far away and watching with wonder is Caillou, a Canadian children’s TV star, who has just returned from school! (This was my daughter’s storyboard, in case you are wondering).

You see, this gets real animated. And really interesting and fun once we get into the groove of the festivities. If you have been following my Dasara bombe set up every year, you have seen my collection of dolls grow, and my display evolve into something alive, something fun, and something memorable for me, my friends and my family.

Settled in far flung corners of the world, we Indians are bound together by a common heritage..a shared joy that abounds in nostalgia of festivals we celebrated while growing up! It is a joy to see virtual family and friends here in the blogosphere, and social media revel in the same delight about my doll display and storytelling, that I once did as a kid!

It is my aspiration that I keep on adding to this doll collection every year, and continue to think of new ways to present the most magnificent version of a story, or a concept and of a myth.

I aspire to bring to life community norms, societal traditions, fantasy and reality, and weave it together in the form a story. For me and my children to enjoy…What better way to do this than during Dasara, where tradition predicates the story telling, and culture presupposes creative expression?

I aspire to keep color and culture at the forefront of my story telling, and it’s so easy today with everything being digital.

I aspire to keep native aspects of our culture at the forefront of my story telling too, and that's tough to retain with everything being new age and western.

Whether it’s the safekeeping of the “Pattada Bombe” or the married couple doll set that gets gifted to every married woman as part of her wedding trousseau (I have two, although I got married only once! J, I guess it will propitiously serve to be allotted one for each of my girls!), or the redesign of the bombe mane steps to be more green and modern. I aspire never to get predictable.

I aspire to keep culture alive. And never to let the enthusiasm fade. And never to stop spinning a tale!

I hope this picture post filled with snapshots of this year’s festive Dasara Bombe Habba from our home has filled you with as much joy and inspiration, as I hoped it would!

So, my dear dear readers. Was this a joyous respite for you?

Did this post rekindle childhood memories? What IS your favorite Dasara tradition?

And thank you really, thank you for being part of my virtual Dasara celebration. The festival is no fun without you! Have a fantastic festival !!

Love,
Supriya

p.s: All photographs are shot by me, and are part of the Dasara Bombe Habba of our home. Please do not use without permission.

Dasara inspirations from Deepa's Home

Alright, I am back with more from our Dasara inspiration station. Dear Aalayam readers, whether you chose to let your hair down and get your groove on to the Raas Garbha or chose to set the stage for an eye catching doll display (golu, bommai koluvu, bombe habba) we hope that your Dussehra festivities have gained momentum by now and that you are having a lot of fun as Vijayadashami draws closer.

It’s Navrathri and we pay obeisance to the Divine mother, the indomitable Shakti and venerate the triumph of good over evil in our distinctive ways and resultantly honor mythology, religion and culture. Previously, we have talked about the role that religion and culture play in helping us embrace our roots. Ethnic celebrations bring a sense of home. For those of us who are away from home, we are fondly reminded of the festive fervor in our colorful bazaars and we recollect the festivities with a nostalgic sigh. And so, we give in to the Desi ethos of celebratory gaiety and try to recreate that festive magic at home, wherever home may be.

For me, the doll festival is not an inherited ritual. My parents’ version of Dasara celebrations included Laxmi and Saraswati puja- a simple worshipping of the different feminine embodiments of the Divine but did not include the doll festival. I started the bombe Habba (doll festival) in my married home fairly recently (last year actually – remember this?).

So, I am still a novice trying to piece together the ins and outs. You can trace the tradition back to diverse legends and customs and I (thanks to the internet, my mom, aunts and friends) have adapted a version that is fun and convenient! Why did I decide to make the bombe habba a part of our Dasara tradition? I turn to celebrations as a way of igniting my 11 year old's curiosity about a culture that he is so far removed from and aspire to help him appreciate the beauty and diversity in both cultures. I want him to be able to draw from his own childhood memories as he goes about defining who he is. I guess for most parents like ourselves, who are raising kids in a bi-cultural environment the goal is to have our kids develop an appreciation for their heritage and symbolism as their bicultural identities are shaping up. Festivals are a great way to enable this reconciliation.

I also love to customize our festivals/holidays and I do this by tapping into the artist in me. I enjoy turning our celebration into a unique combination of cultural antecedents and artistic expression and create an experience we as a family can remember years from now!

So, without much further ado I welcome you all to our Bombe Habba /doll display! Our display this year has lots of color and a little bit of kitsch with spatterings of folk influences!

I moved it to our study this year and used the same étagère to display my dolls. By simply moving it to another location and using a different wall color as the backdrop – the display already looks different!

You can view pictures from last year’s display here.

Allow me to highlight a few things in our display-

Custom works of art - Took a life of their own as our display came to life! A couple of handcrafted (by me) elephants adorn the top of our display serving as symbolic reminders of the royal elephants (carrying the Chinnada Ambari) of Mysore Dasara.

My son’s heart-warming rendition of doll festival was an invaluable lesson in expressing oneself.

Handcrafted elephant wall hangings– These are a seemly tribute to the splendor and aristocracy of the parade elephants of the Mysore kings. Incorporating timeless Rajasthani handicrafts was a fun way to turn my Dasara spectacle into a North meets South cultural kaleidoscope!

Kaali in Madhubani form- The mother represents transcendent power and courage as Kaali. Her charisma and exuberance is rightly captured in this folk art rendition.Pulling pieces from your art collection into your festive tableau is a great way to get some extra mileage out of your favorite pieces.

Heirlooms– I decided it was time to start collecting things that would be looked at as time –worn family treasures years from now, objects that would carry with them a sense of history, meaning and tradition. I love this delicately handcrafted carousel with its vivid colors and tuneful music – I found this on my recent trip to France and knew this would be a wonderful keepsake. It makes a great addition to our “magical” row sharing the space with fairies and knights and another keepsake – the tin Ferris wheel that is a replica of the original 1900’s penny toys. I love the lithographic printing on this timeless toy!

Parade of Gods – Our display this year was a little more tradition heavy than last year as we had what I like to fondly refer to as the “Parade Gods”. After all, Golu or bombe habba is a depiction of all celestial beings standing still while Shakti attempts to reinstate cosmic balance. I hope as my doll collection grows, I can one day have a gorgeous display of luminous idols in gorgeous jewel tones that are all symmetrically laid out (sigh!)

And because everyone’s got to have a favorite…. I have one too! Isn’t this just adorable – if I may say so myself?

Setting up the doll display has taught me that passion, dedication; hard work can all be expressions of worship. Dussehra tells the story of the Divine Mother recreating herself perhaps symbolizing the need for recycling and rejuvenation of our strengths and our spirit! I wish you a peaceful and prosperous time as you celebrate with your own families.

Shubho Bijoya!

Cheers!

~Deepa

P.S: All images are from my home and taken by my husband. Please do not use without permission.

Mishta's art work (that's right!) hangs proudly on her gallery wall.

Verdant courtyards, colorful Portuguese influences and the home owner’s discerning aesthetic strokes are just a few of the many highlights of Mishta and Anirudh’s cultured and curated home in the heart of a city that I fondly call home – Bengaluru, India.

Tropical colors and spanish tiles greet visitors at the entrance!

Aalayam readers, it is with great pleasure that I bring you a home from home ! One that kindles the senses with its allure!

It is a labor of love filled with Mishta and Anirudh’s globe trotting treasures and impeccable taste! One look at the luscious green spaces that blend seamlessly with the light
and airy indoors and you will want to move in and call this your home! What can I say – this home is a tropical sanctuary par excellence!

Previously, the home has been featured on BBC Good Homes, Inside Outside, Deccan Chronicle, Good House Keeping, Ideal Home and Garden and Rang Décor Blog. Yes, it is that good!

I love the play of light and shadows on this tiled porch - don't you?

Today, I am proud to tell Mishta and Anirudh’s home story - the Aalayam way!

Thank you for sharing your jewel of a home with all of us. Thank you also to my dear friend Pooja for introducing me to Mishta and making this home tour possible!

House proud - Mishta and Anirudh!

Mishta was great fun to work with! I walked into her home (virtually via Facebook) and stood there with my mouth wide open! This is the kind of home that would totally engage even a stranger! I could not stop looking at the beautiful images of her home staring at me from my FB screen. And then, I sent her a mountain of questions! I had to! I wanted to know everything about how this beautiful home came to be! I am sure Mishta had no clue what she was signing up for when she agreed to do this for Aalayam but she obliged cheerfully. I connected with her warm and ebullient personality in an instant and I knew then that the home was an absolute extension of her diligence and energy. The time difference meant that we would catch each other at ungodly hours and anybody who can inject a little humor into a conversation even at 12.30 am when they are in the middle of a late night feed for their child is worth getting to know and I am glad I did! I deeply cherish the alliances that Aalayam allows me to make.

Layered with love!

Below is our conversation on home and décor with insights from Mishta's keen home making sense. Mishta and Anirudh share this space with darling daughter Mohini fondly called Mou and their furry feline! Mishta’s home has been featured in several print and online media before but Aalayam holds the bragging rights for being the first to share pictures of Li’L Mou’s room! Yay!!

Check out the French Calligraphy announcing Mou's Room - The devil is in the details!

Sit back and let the images take you to a kaleidoscopic tropical retreat. Diwali will be here soon and it is that time of the year when we all want to spruce up our homes and get into the festive spirit. Allow yourself to be inspired by this magical space!

One of the three courtyards in the house. Leaving the city behind.....

What makes your home "your home"?

M: Our home is a home because we live in it :) ! We don’t believe in having a showpiece museum at the cost of living, but having said that, we’re naturally neat people and we take pride in our efforts to make the house look beautiful and lived in at the same time. Our daughter is being taught from a very young age to put away her toys after she finishes playing so no Lego underfoot here!

Global treasures find a place in their home and heart!

A lot of us stop at designing/decorating our interiors but you seem to have prioritized decorating your outdoor spaces too! Tell me about your love for the green spaces in your home.

M: A few trips to Bali and Sri Lanka changed the way we viewed the outdoors in personal space forever, the blurring of the inside and the outside and to seamlessly blend the two. The sense of peace in the morning, sitting in the courtyard, looking at the plants and breathing in the fresh air is a luxury that we cannot do without anymore! The emphasis on the outdoors, and a laid-back approach to living is what defines our home.

Does the decor in your home fit the bill for any one particular style - if so, what drove you to that style?

M: ‘Tropical’ is what we are aspiring to…the cool shades of greenery and warm color schemes equate living in this space to living in a dream. The design of the house really allows us to experience all of nature up close and feel at peace any time of the day and it reminds us of our beloved Bali and Goa at each corner.

Who calls the design shots in your home?

M: We both do. Anirudh holds the rights to more practical solutions while I lean towards the more whimsical.

How does your personal decor style influence your work professionally or the other way around?

Since we’re both visual/ergonomic designers, it has definitely affected the way we see spaces and colours. Tropical decor is vibrant with lively overtones and both our personalities resonated well with that. Mishta is a graphic designer from Central Saint Martins. Her company is called Drawater by Mishta Roy while Anirudh is an ergonomist from Georgia Tech; a technical design consultant for technology companies.

What are your favorite places to shop for your home? Are you budget savvy or would you rather own pieces that truly strike a chord with you even if they are expensive?

M: We decorate our home with pieces we have purchased all over the world on our travels. We once shipped large Balinese doorway guardian statues all the way from Bali and enormous birdcages from another trip! We don’t ever shop for anonymous pieces. They have to mean something to us and be associated with an experience/memory/geography/childhood.

Where do you draw your online inspirations from - any favorite resources that you can share?

M: Inhabitot for now for Mou’s room, Rang Décor, Indian Summer, Kaleidoscope.

Mou's room - Magical and merry!

* My absolute favorite response – this to me sums up how and why this is such a gorgeous home *

Are there influences from your home state (west Bengal/Calcutta) in your décor or have you stuck to southern influences of your adopted state/city (Karnataka/ Bangalore)? How are the two different in your opinion?

M: The house inadvertently has mirrored my grandmother’s house in Alipore, Kolkata. Three bedrooms in three distinct color schemes…pink room, green room and blue room. As well as the grandfather clock that chimes melodically every 15 minutes… we got a Seiko that sounds the same as my grandmother’s clock! The library was inspired by Anirudh’s grandfather’s extensive collection and we designed the floor to ceiling bookshelves to mirror that. So I would say that our home is not so much inspired by our cultures, but rather by our childhood memories of happy spaces.

How is your adorable daughter influencing your home décor process now – tell me a little bit about creating kid friendly spaces.

M: She is influencing us through necessary childproofing…so a lot of furniture has moved around and safety gates installed. The green room has been turned into her playroom which is circus themed. I wanted to give her an environment that was colorful, propagated a love for animals and strong women who fly(!), so no pink princesses here!

Pick one room and tell us how it came about – what did you buy first, how did you keep adding till you said this is it. Did you envision the look before hand or was it done on the fly?

M:How did it come together so well? It evolved...but was determined right at the beginning by the color of the wall..ie pink room has fabrics which are soft florals always so it compliments the color. The furniture too is delicate. So it is a fairly feminine, peaceful room and so my glass perfume bottle collection has a home here. Blue room is the master bedroom and has strong indigo flavors, so the furnishings and furniture compliment that.

delicate wind swept block print fabrics add to the romance!

What’s next for your beautiful home?

M: A swing! The perfect indoor/outdoor swing has been eluding me for awhile!

And because I love this wall, her art work, that chest and those bird cages so much.....

One simple thing – a swing, she says! This is yet another reminder of the fact that it takes patience and perseverance to create the home of your dreams.

Anirudh and Mishta, decided to build over Anirudh’s family home’s existing ground-floor bungalow and Mishta says “ We wanted something different, something that reflected our love for travel and nature and blurred the lines between inside and outside. A house that was inward-facing and left the city out,while creating a peaceful oasis that we could enjoy privately”

They have accomplished that and more, don’t you think?

Thank you for joining us on this home tour. Please leave your comments and questions for Mishta. Tell us if you are inspired by this space. Our home owners, who graciously share their homes with all of us, would love to hear from you.

Next up, the post that you and I have both waited for – Aalayam's Diwali post! Yes, it is now an annual Aalayam tradition and I am all excited to bring you sparkling inspirations to ignite your festive fervor! Join me next week for Diwali décor inspirations!

Cheers!

~Deepa

P.S: All images belong to the home owners – Mishta and Anirudh and may not be used without permission.

Add glitz and glamor to your Diwali tablescape - I've done it with crystal, color and metallic accents!

Aalayam's annual Diwali edition by Deepa + a Giveaway (for details scroll down)

As with every other festival, I am still finding my way around traditions and Diwali is no exception. I yearn to recreate the traditions of my maternal home and long for the Deepavali of my childhood. Lucid memories of facile traditions are rekindled - the oil bath at the break of dawn that heralds the onset of the three day festivities, the aroma of the delicacies prepared by mom, the stash of firecrackers painstakingly divided in 2 equal halves by us (bickering) siblings, earthen diyas awaiting to be lined in neat little rows, visiting aunts, uncles, grand parents in all our Deepavali finery, boxes of sweets and the glittery explosion of firecrackers! The magic of Deepavali beckons – after all it is the most adored childhood memory for most of us.

Nothing says Diwali like a traditional thali dinner!

Fast-forward to my expatriate life and Diwali is a weekend potluck dinner, rows of tea lights and maybe some sparklers! A far cry from Diwali’s of the past!

Italian etched goblets work great for serving mango lassi! Pair them with colored water tumblers!

But over the years, I have learnt to add the sparkle back in small doses via our own family traditions while ardently reflecting on past Diwali’s . At the heart of our celebrations is a good Diwali meal and that is what today’s post is all about. I am passionate about my Diwali meals and many of my own festive memories are intrinsically tied to the food traditions – my grand mom’s rice appams (yele appa) were to die for and I long for it each Diwali. Talk about Pavlov’s classical conditioning! Living in America, I have come to appreciate Western holiday traditions that are strongly rooted in food and feasting and so I attempt to savor Diwali via a meal that promises to bring food, people, culture and tradition together. And hopefully, these meals will leave lasting impressions on my young one and conjure up fond memories of a radiant Diwali night.

Take stock of what you have and creatively work them into your tablescape

This year, I pulled out all the stops in creating a magical tablescape for our dinner guests. I will break this down for you step by step – stay along with the pictures and please do not hesitate to ask me any questions. Make sure to stay with me till the end of the post as I have a giveaway to announce! We also have more Diwali decoration inspirations in our previous year's post. Make sure to check out this, thisand this!

Creating a beautiful Deepavali tablescape - made easy!

Add the layers one piece at a time - silver chargers are versatile decor pieces!

I love creating visually decadent tablescapes and I promise you there will be many more tablescapes on Aalayam. This year, I have combined my eastern heritage with my travel inspirations to create a tablescape that merits a distinction of its own. It all started with the crystal candle holders that I found at Home Goods this year – they reminded me of the crystal chandeliers that I saw in the Hall of mirrors at the Palace of Versailles (remember our trip to France?). That was my inspiration!

Hall of mirrors- The Palace of Versaille!

I was blown away by the delicate beauty of the French chandeliers and swore to add a touch of French chic to our home. I was euphoric when I found these candleholders– they were definitely going in my Deepavali décor this year.

A travel inspiration works its way into a tablescape at home- for the love of crystal light accents!

And then it quickly became a matter of adding things that would work with these focal pieces. Colors, textures and patterns were blended in experimentally till I knew I had nailed it!

Lessons from my tablescape:

Paisley - the ultimate ethnic motif!

Create cohesion– by threading different elements with a common theme. In this case I used the Paisley motif to unite the various components and keep the eye moving. The block print paisley napkins, the hand made cards with the paisley stickers and the amber glasses with the paisley motif all work great together and add an ethnic charm to my tablescape.

Always buy enduring pieces and get more mileage out of them - gold toned flatware paired with silver charger and a steel thali - it works!

Use versatile pieces – the fabrics, the tray, the thalis (plates) and the goblets are enduring pieces that I can creatively combine to create an entirely different look next time. So, take stock of what you own and think about how you can use it before you go shopping. My solid blue cotton tablecloth will work well for a birthday or a tea party next time. By layering a saffron block print napkin on it, I have added a festive tenor to the base layer.

A fun conversation starter - the great Indian two-wheeler, move over elephants and peacocks!

Think outside the box. After all you are trying to create a memorable scene that can be remembered long after Diwali is gone. My steel scooter is a fun conversation starter and a fond reminder of home. Let the elephants and the peacocks be… after all there is more to India!

And it comes to life....

Indulge a bit - After all you will be adding a touch of sparkle to your wardrobe. So, why not add some glitter and shine to your home and your dinner table too? I love the sparkle emanating from the light reflected off the crystals in my candleholder. I love the colorful radiance of the rhinestones used in handmade Deepavali signage and my personalized greeting cards. I love the sheen on my gold toned flatware. There’s lots of ways to add sparkle and shine to your décor and here’s just a few ideas.

Make sure to let the flowers pop - they need not all match!

Stay away from faux flowers – please! My friendly neighborhood florist patiently replaced all the fall colored flowers with bright fuchsia ones to create this vibrant bouquet. I wanted the flowers to stand out and not blend in with the blue and orange background. In return, she got a one-one lesson on the splendor of Diwali. It was a win-win for both of us!

Hand made with love!

And lastly – add a few personalized touches for a lasting impression. A handmade Diwali sign and some personalized cards are sure to make your guests smile. These cards can alternately work as menu cards if you are hosting your non-Indian friends for dinner.

Indian decor need not be tacky and gaudy - there I said it!

Indian décor need not be tacky and gaudy! Indian décor is elegant and beautiful and let your home and table speak for that! The warm glow of the candles will surely knock your décor out of the park!

Embrace the Diwali festivities with a piquant home cooked meal served in style. Once again, this post is about combining the Indian tradition of hospitality with the Western art of entertaining. I hope you all partake in a memorable Diwali meal this year and if you are hosting one - I hope I have inspired you to set a beautiful table!

Our home awaits its guests!

Let us also spare a minute to reflect on the spiritual traditions of Deepavali that bear significance to our every day lives. The killing of Narakasura by Lord Krishna symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The waking up at Brahma muhurtha symbolizes the early to rise …..concept. The lighting of the diyas emphasizes the need for self-reflection and the need to move away from darkness and ignorance. I hope to be reminded of all these Diwali tenets as I look at the flickering glow of the candles on Diwali night.

Dear readers we wish you health, peace and lots of colorful memories this Diwali.

Now in keeping with the spirit of giving –Supriya and I want to giveaway a fifty dollar gift card of Home Goods and thank you all for your warmth and love!

Love my candleholders? They can be yours with the giftcard - see below for details!

If you loved the crystal candleholder or the Italian etched wine goblets (they are perfect for serving mango lassi or badam milk this Diwali) I have used in this tablescape then here is your chance to buy it with the gift card we are giving away. This giveaway is open to readers in the US. Readers in other parts of the world are welcome to enter on behalf of friends and family here in the US.

Here is how you become eligible

1. Join Aalayam as a member and leave us a comment stating you are a new member.

2. If you are an existing member, you must introduce at least one new member to the Aalayam family and leave a comment introducing the new member. You and the new member will both be eligible!

3. And finally! Increase your chances of winning by introducing additional new members. So, if you introduce 5 new members, you have 5 chances to win the gift card!

The giveaway will close on October 24th at 10 pm eastern and the winner will be announced in our next post. Good luck!

Cheers!

~Deepa

All images are from my home and shot by Uj. Please do not use without permission.

A last minute Diwali inspiration - group brass objects and place them at varying heights on a corner table or as a photo booth prop! Images from Deepa's home.

Dear Readers - A gentle reminder that ourTJ MAXX Home Goods fifty dollar gift cardgive away is on till October 24th 10 pm Eastern time. You can still enter to win!!!!

Those of you who joined the Aalayam family recently (after October 14th), please, please leave us a comment with your name as you are eligible to enter the giveaway. We don't want to miss anyone who is eligible.

For others who want to participate in the giveaway now (you still have time), here is the eligibility criteria.

1. Join Aalayam as a member and leave us a comment stating you are a new member.

2. If you are an existing member, you must introduce at least one new member to the Aalayam family and leave a comment introducing the new member. You and the new member will both be eligible!

3. And finally! Increase your chances of winning by introducing additional new members. So, if you introduce 3 new members, you have 3 chances to win the gift card!

This giveaway is open to readers in the US. Readers in other parts of the world are welcome to enter on behalf of friends and family here in the US.

The giveaway will close on October 24th at 10 pm eastern and the winner will be announced in a future post. Good luck!

Once again, we wish you a Joyous Deepavali! We will see you on the other side of Diwali with some bone chilling stories!

Join us for our Halloween spooktacular then!

Cheers!

~Deepa

As an ode to Halloween, Aalayam brings you a favorite emotion, well plated and curated in cultural relevance - Fear!!

Spooktacular imagery! From Deepa's lens

Let's admit it, we like being scared, we like putting ourselves in those situations that cause panic, increase our heartbeat, make us shudder, and stretch our realm of imagination. We love gathering around a bonfire and listening to ghost stories. We love nuzzling close to our date as we watch a horror flick! Do we? Or not?

Of course we do! We love the adrenaline rush, the goose flesh, the thrill of being scared! Of vicariously experiencing what’s forbidden, bizarre or dark! Some people avoid that emotion altogether, but I know I love watching a good supernatural flick or engaging in some "this happened to me" storytelling that makes me wonder, if there are spirits out there, wandering around for deliverance!

So, in the honor of Halloween (Oct 31st) here in the USA, lets get well and truly spooked, shall we?

First of all, the Halloween legend!

Halloween trivia! From Deepa's lens

According to my sources, Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31st, which is the evening before the Christian feast of All Saint’s Day. Halloween’s history goes back to the ancient religion of the Celtic tribes (circa 500 B.C.) from whom came the Britons, Scots and the Irish. Present day Britains, Scots, Welsh and Irish are all descendants from these ancient Celtic tribes.

The Celts worshipped nature and believed in the spirit world. They worshipped over 300 gods. Their chief god was the sun and they celebrated two festivals revolving around the sun: Beltane, to mark the beginning of summer and Samhain or Saman to mark the start of winter.

The Celts believed that at the end of summer, Samhain, the lord of death becomes powerful and overpowers the sun god. On October 31, Samhain assembles all the evil spirits who had died the previous year and allows them to return home to visit the living.

On October 31, after the harvest, the druids would meet under an oak grove or near large stone circles where they performed sacrifices. Some believe that the Stonehenge in England is one such druid circle. The priests would light great fires and offer sacrifices to Samhain to ensure that the sun returned after the winter.

What's the significance behind trick and treat? From Deepa's lens

During the night all fires except the sacrificial one to Samhain were extinguished. The Vigil of Samhain, as it was called, would keep the sacrificial fire on through the night and the next day embers from this fire would be used to light the fire in each household.

Villagers would try to appease goblins and demons with offerings of food and nuts. They would leave little treats that the household had to offer, to satisfy the hunger of these demons. If the demon was satisfied with the treat, it was believed it would not trick the person or cast an evil spell. Therein lies the origin of the present day trick or treat.

Guess who this is! Who is this man in Halloween costume?

History & folklore is rife with stories about vengeful ghosts, good ghosts, and kindred spirits roaming around. Sharing this world with us.

My favorite lore is that of "Mohini" or the Churel, a banshee ghost in the folklore of India—which is renowned for its scream. Usually taking the form of a woman, a Churel is said to be a vengeful ghost that returns to the land of the living as a vampire-like creature, bent on revenge!

Often found in the wilderness, a Churel has feet which are flipped 180 degrees, (ah, that was a detail, my grandmother never failed to mention in her ghost stories) allowing her to walk backwards while she mesmerizes the victim! If her gaze is not shunned, usually through a cloth or blanket over one’s own eyes, she will lead the victim to a secluded location and drain them of their blood!

I always wondered, why ghost stories were so sexist, growing up! But I guess that's a conversation for another day!!

Don't look behind you!!! From Deepa's lens

Well, I hope we got spooked enough in this post! Just enough for it to be thrilling! What are your favorite ghost stories? Do you believe in the supernatural?

Lets talk!

Stay safe this Halloween!!

Love,

Supriya

p.s. I hope I have not offended any spirits out there. Sorry guys, just talking about you...no offense intended! ;)

Have you been feeling like you need some downtime? I know I have! The frenzied pace of events of the past few months is finally catching up or so it seems. Festivities, changing seasons, social engagements, work, home and family priorities have all snowballed into a giant circle and I am constantly on the move! I know Supriya is swamped too and I offered to write all the posts for Aalayam this month. But for the past couple of days I have struggled to bring myself to work on a post and today I read this article in the WSJ blog titled“Five Ways to Take Control of Our Runaway Lives” where the author was making a case for breaking away from the frenzied pace of life.

One of the tips offered in the article was to do nothing and reflect and it got me thinking. How often do we schedule a “do-nothing time” in our daily/weekly or monthly calendars? Do we ever make time to “escape “ and I don’t mean a getaway or a vacation (believe me going on a vacation can be a lot of work too!). I mean escape as in do nothing, look within, reflect, sleep–in, enjoy a long drive or savor a steamy cup of chai. Simple things that let you take control and refocus..

The year is coming to an end rather quickly and I know many of us start making plans to nurture ourselves with healthy new year resolutions. Why not start early this year? It is o.k to hit the pause button when you really feel the pace heating up. A little down-time can go a long way in recharging our batteries and helping us to become more productive in the next leg . And yet, I need to constantly remind myself that it is o.k to slow down . I guess, we all put self-preservation on the back burner. We get caught up in trying to keep everything at home and at work running smoothly. Supriya will be talking about work-life balance in a later post and therefore I will defer the discussion on “balance” to her.

Here at Aalayam, we strive to bring you beautiful inspirations to lead a wholesome life and in line with that thought, I bring you images of Home (or I should say our former home) as a reminder that we all need to unwind and relax and make time to nurture ourselves. And what better place to start than home? Cherish time with your loved ones, sit by the window and pay attention to the pitter-patter of the falling rain drops, enjoy a good book by the fire - things that will rejuvenate you and help you move forward . The holidays will be busy for all of us too and that is when we will inadvertently be overextending ourselves and it may be well worth it to focus a little on ourselves.

I am sharing some images of our former home. It was our first home and a rather modest home. But it was still a place where we cherished time with each other as a family, dreamt happy dreams and created warm memories. Of course, I was not writing for Aalayam back then and therefore I do not have a lot of pictures. But this home was featured on Priya’s blog and this is what I had written about our home then-

“Home and entertaining are central to our existence and after a hard day’s work or at the end of a busy work week, we love coming to a home where we can relax and unwind. My husband and I have always taken pride in our home. Overall, our home is a reflection of our ethnic roots. From art work in the Warli and Tanjore style to the foot stool in the Rajasthani patch work style, our home is filled with treasures that speak to our Indian origin. Even our choice of furniture was largely guided by our Indian aesthetic sensibilities. We reached for pieces with a lot of sculpting in it – columns and arches. We went for darker tones and solid wood but the challenge was to balance style and function. Also, you will see a lot of black pieces in our home and that was our way of adding a modern twist to the antique styling”

If you are a regular Aalayam eader, you probably realize I have carried forward the same accents, furniture and design sensibilities into my current home but the big difference is color. Yes, we did a dramatic 360 with color in our current home (intentionally)!

Home means different things to different people. To me- it means an oasis! A place where I can enjoy the simple pleasures of life like the warmth of a fire on a crisp autumn evening or a quiet conversation or soulful music with my family.

I hope as the year end approaches you all will make the time to embrace what is important to you and find a happy middle ground as you strive to balance the various demands of every day life.

Pardon me as I turn down the frequency of our posts a little bit temporarily but please note that we are working on some exciting posts for the holiday season!

I will also announce the winner of our TJ MAXX home goods gift card give away winner in my next post. Keep commenting, we are adding a surprise twist to the giveaway!

Cheers!

~Deepa

P.S: All images in this post are from my former home and taken by my husband. Please do not use without permission.

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